ALFRED F. MORRIS JR

1942 - 2015

  
ALFRED F. MORRIS, JR.  
Of Washington DC died suddenly on Thanksgiving day, November 26, 2015, at GWU Hospital. He was born July 20, 1942, in Fall River, MA to Alfred and Beatrice (Pontes) Morris.His Almae Matres were Somerset High School (1960), University of Massachusetts (B.S. 1964 & Ph.D. 1975) and University of Maryland (M.A. 1966).Dr. Morris began his lifelong career in Health and Physical Fitness as Head Coach of Track and Field and Cross Country at Ballou Senior High School in Washington, DC in the mid 60''s. From 1968-1971 he served in Vietnam as a Marine officer. In 1975, he earned Ph.D. in Exercise Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor jobs followed at Emory University, University of Maryland and University of Illinois where he was appointed Director of US Olympic Research Site. After the academic work, Dr. Morris was employed as Military Nutritionist at National Defense University in Norfolk, VA. In 2008 he retired after 15 years as Director of Health Improvement and Physical Fitness program at the DHS US Border Patrol HQ in Washington DC.He practiced what he preached by running 36 marathons (personal best 2:44 in 1978), by staying involved as master level Track and Field official with the USATF Potomac Valley Track Club, and finally, by making a noble and altruistic anatomical gift to the Howard University College of Medicine. Al will be missed by his spouse of 21 years Gita, sons Vincent, Daniel and Brian, their mother Linda French, sister Beatrice Biello, brothers Gerald and Roger, grandchildren Caitlin, Emma, Jamie, Ashlyn, Cate, and Gavin, goddaughter Lisa; members of extended family; friends, neighbors, former colleagues, fellow Vietnam veterans and his four-legged buddy, Luxor. Month''s Mind Memorial Mass will be celebrated on December 26, 2015, at 11 a.m. at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 630 E Street, SW, Washington DC 20024. The inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery will be announced at a future date.