I recall the first time I met Alan Ward early last year at the downtown farmers’ market in front of the Main Library. I liked him instantly. I met with him to talk about the market’s troubles with that troublesome Mexican flag-burning bozo the Tucson Weekly calls Asshat. Ward was manager of the market that rotated from the Presidio to the library two-days a week. He died yesterday, Sunday, Oct. 18 in hospice care at Tucson Medical Center.
Ward came down ill Oct. 8, and his friends Bob & Dianne Lichtenberg took him to the hospital and took over managing the market, hoping Ward would get better and return. This Wednesday, market vendors will meet to discuss how the market will be managed with Ward absent from the scene.
Bob told me this afternoon that he and his wife are happy to be involved, and there is some discussion that Alan’s son may be interested. A memorial is being planned, although Bob said there isn’t a date or location set. Bob said Alan is survived by his son, Cody, and his sister and mother, who are from Michigan. I imagine many of the vendors, past and present, can be listed as survivors, too.
“We’re Alan’s friends, but he was a friend to everybody… I’ve known where he hasn’t charged somebody because they weren’t selling anything and they were hurting for money… He was one of the most decent human beings I have known. He’d just helped people.
One of the vendors is in a wheelchair travels by bus to get down there. Alan lugged his table around with him, so he didn’t have to lug it on the bus. Alan also had extra tables for people who didn’t have one. He had market umbrellas for people who didn’t have tents, so they didn’t cook up in the sun.
When asked if Alan gone means the future of the market is in question, Bob replied:
“I don’t know. I think the market should go on. If it wasn’t working the vendors wouldn’t come down, and they do. We had 16 vendors last Wednesday. It’s an important place for artists to go and sell, and even see if they want to sell. I had a teacher last Thursday come down and sell his art work rather than teach. He sat for the day and got a feel for what it was like to see if wanted to do it again. At the end of day I did what Alan would have done – I didn’t charge him.”
When I interviewed Alan, he was struggling with getting the city to pay attention to complaints he had that Asshat was causing a major disturbance at the market, especially to his vendors who were there just trying to make a living while listening to Asshat’s bullhorn rants. Alan made a difference, but it seemed when students from City High got hurt arguing with Asshat, the Tucson Police Department finally intervened. Alan won, and peace was restored to the market and his vendors. Back then he described them to me as “fearless.”
He worked hard with the city to establish a market downtown. I’m sure when the vendors get together on Wednesday, they may use the word fearless to describe Alan. After first meeting him last year, I always stopped to talk with him when I was downtown and passing the market. He’d share story ideas with me and never hesitated to call if he thought one of his vendors was be treated unfairly by the city. When I’d go downtown for record searches, I loved seeing his old green and white VW bus – that meant Alan was around helping his vendors put up tables and get booths set up. Sometimes, I felt especially lucky when I’d see him and his bus at an out-of-town festival, where Alan set-up his own booth selling his silver creations from old spoons and forks.
“He was looking for something to give to the city,” Bob said.
Thank goodness. Hopefully, there are few more gems like Alan ready to take his place.
This article appears in Oct 15-21, 2009.
Great Story! Maybe Someone will see fit to maybe Rename The Market after him. We Could use alot more like him in Tucson.
Patrick Cline-Deployed Soldier
I am a fairly new vendor on the downtown scene, but have known Alan for a while from being in local craft fairs together. He’s a great guy! He quickly found a place in my heart. I am going to miss him.
Joslyn Yozwiak
A Legacy Lead; not left. A warming soul, flowing on….
I knew Allen. We did many shows together. He was a genuinely good hearted person and always had a smile on his face. I will miss him as I know many more will too.
Frank Barcellona
Buckeye, Arizona
Thank you for the nice article about Alan. His shining spirit touched so many people in so many ways.
He will be greatly missed but always remembered.
Julie Rose
Good job on this one, Mari Herreras!
A few years ago, I used to help out another animal rescue. Alan would give me a space down town at the library to set up a tent and bring the dogs down that were extremely hard to place. He never charged a dime. He always came over to talk and pet the dogs. Thanks to him, we had several dogs find their forever homes and more people became aware of the homeless animal problems that plagues Tucson.
Tucson lost a treasure.
I have known Al since we were both 5 years old going to kindergarten together in the little town of Bancroft, Michigan. We became the best of friends and were inseperable from then on. So many great memories to reminisce, none will be forgot. He was a great friend and a wonderful person. Thank all of you for your kind words. Ben Van Kuren
My, My, My what a troublesome thing “The First Amendment” is, especially when someone who despises both the right and left wings uses it.
You people didn’t attend the trial where Alan was convicted of violating a restraining order and attacking me, the “Asshat,” were you? Because if you were you would have heard my impassioned plea to sentencing Judge Klotz to show a leniency to Ward that Ward never would have extended to me.
(Judge Klotz, bless his heart, gave Ward the Max!!)
You didn’t report Ward’s assault on me either did you? Or the fact Tucson City Prosecutor Alan Merritt chose to prosecute me for defending myself against Ward’s assault even though the cops present at the incident refused to arrest me because none of them thought I had committed any crime.
Guess what, Tucson Weekly?
This “Mexican Flag Burning Bozo” WILL resume conducting The Tucson Weekly Public on Wednesdays, down near the corner of Pennington and Stone, and I WILL continue exposing to public view the Right Wing Republicans who commenced Open Border Policy some thirty years ago so they could break American Labor Unions, entice and exploit Cheap Mexican Labor, and Get Rich, as well as the Left Wing Moon Bat Phony “Humanitarians” like Isabel Garcia and Jennifer Allen, who dream of Aztlan, and don’t care how many Illegals they kill trying to get it.
BTW: Chriss Hoffman is DEAD, Alexander Rodriquez is DOING TIME for killing that Old Time Lefty and Open Border Activist Robert Hooker, and Alan Ward is DEAD from what may have been the Mexican Swine Flu.
Not much profit in it for those who try to take me down. Poetic Justice, Don’tcha think?
Roy Warden, the Notorious Mexican Flag Burner
roywarden1@netzero.net
Roy you dickhead, you cry whoo is me when it’s actually you that instigates the shit that happens to you. You preach hate and are surprise when hate comes back to you….
We were surprised and saddened to hear of Alan’s death. Alan gave us an exclusive opportunity to perform at the Presidio Farmer’s Market. That exposure has turned into local contracts for us. He was always enthusiastic, well-mannered, honest and kind. We will miss him very much. Cody, if you read this, our thoughts are full of compassion for you and the rest of your family. Robin and Michelle (InAscent)