Alan Mark Haufrect

Alan Mark Haufrect

LOS ANGELES, CA - Alan Mark Haufrect, beloved father, actor, and later, executive with WinCraft, died at his home in Century City, CA, on Saturday, the 17th of August, after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 83.

Alan joined WinCraft in 2011 until his retirement in 2021. During these 10 years, the experience Alan brought from his previous role with Aminco International (USA) Inc, enabled WinCraft to forge lasting relationships with new partners in the jewelry, pins and accessories market, such as Disney and the NFL. Alan was most passionate about his work popularizing WinCraft's Official Pin Trading Centers; its initial success at NHL stadiums paved the way for all the major sports leagues to adopt the model. Today, sports enthusiasts enjoy Pin Trading Centers by WinCraft in stadiums all over the nation by the hundreds and thousands each year, and Alan took great joy in meeting collectible enthusiasts, who often sought him out at Fan Fests to pose for pictures over the years.

Working with the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA and the Atlanta Olympic Games, Alan loved taking family, friends and colleagues to sporting events and developed lasting friendships in cities across the country. He always looked forward to spending time in Winona, even when the weather was well below zero because the warmth and good cheer of his friends and colleagues more than made up for it, whether it was time spent talking over coffee and donuts at Bloedow's, a 3-course dinner at Signatures, or a root beer float at the Lake View Drive In.

Alan was not a boastful man unless speaking of others (especially his daughter, who traveled with him to Winona on many occasions) and never missed an opportunity to remind folks that he was "just a cowboy from Texas," where he was raised. But eventually most people learned that Alan's role as an executive had been fine-tuned in Hollywood where he'd spent almost 30 years as a go-to character actor in a variety of feature films, television shows, commercials and stage plays between 1968 and 1996 before turning his sights on business. His role with WinCraft was more than a job to him. With the soul of an actor, the mind of a businessman and the heart of a comedian, his work with WinCraft brought out the best of him and, in turn, Alan brought out the best in others.

Above his many contributions and talents, Alan cherished more than anything his leading roles as a loving father and brother. He will be remembered always as a devoted friend and mentor, sharing his unmatched wit, unmistakable voice and endless generosity with friends, colleagues and even complete strangers in need of a laugh, smile or kind word.

He is survived by his daughter, Sarah Haufrect and son-in-law, Jared Michael Cote; two brothers: Eric and Dale Haufrect; four nephews: Brian, Mark, Ian and Adam Haufrect, along with an entourage of loyal friends who filled his life with joy.