Alan V. Vaskas

2/13/1946 - 3/12/2026

Stonington - Alan V. Vaskas died at his home in Stonington, March 12, 2026, after a three-month struggle with complications from a debilitating fall.

He was born in Göppingen, Germany, Feb. 13, 1946, to Albin and Hedwig Vaskas, who had fled Russian occupation of their home country, Lithuania. In 1949, Alan and his family emigrated from Germany and settled in Nashua, N.H., where he grew up. A 1963 graduate of Nashua High School, he excelled in diverse areas: he attained the rank of Eagle Scout; he won several first prizes in both local and state science fairs; he was selected to participate in the Advanced Studies Program at St. Paul's School, a prestigious residential summer program for outstanding New Hampshire high school students.

A 1967 graduate of Brown University, he soon joined the New Hampshire National Guard. His unit was deployed to Vietnam, where, on April 19, 1969, he was gravely wounded. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor device and the Purple Heart. He spent two years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Alan graduated from Fordham Law School in 1974, and thereafter practiced law in Philadelphia and West Chester, Pa. While living in Pennsylvania, he was a member (and president) of the Quaker City Farmers, establishing the Quaker City Farmers Scholarship Fund to provide college scholarships to agriculture and horticulture high school students. He also served on the board of a chapter of the Salvation Army.

Alan and Janet McClendon married in 1988; they had more than 37 wonderful, loving, and laughter-filled years together. In 2018, they moved to Stonington. There, Alan was a member of the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club, where he served on the Board of Governors and the law committee; a member of the Wadawanuck Club; and chairman of the Borough Zoning Board of Appeals. He reveled in the harbor view from his back lawn, especially the frequent and breath-taking sunsets, and he enjoyed helping on a safety boat for the Wednesday Night Races.

Alan was a kind and gentle man, with a wonderful smile and a sharp, often irreverent, wit. He was a long-time friend to many, and he could fool anyone with his deadpan delivery.

In addition to Janet, Alan leaves two sons from a previous marriage, Douglas and Andrew; and four grandchildren; a brother, Albin, of Kirkland, Wash.; and two sisters, Mary Ann Travis of Southaven, Miss. (and her three sons and their families), and Natalie Johnson of El Paso, Texas (and her daughter and two sons and their families).

There will be a private Celebration of Life later in the spring. Donations in Alan's memory may be made to the Stonington Free Library, 20 High Street, P.O. Box 232, Stonington, CT 06378; to the Quaker City Farmers Scholarship Fund, c/o CCCF, 28 West Market Street, West Chester, PA 19382; or to a charity of the donor's choice.