One of the nicest, most personable and honest men I have ever met....ironically by purchasing an automobile.   Just became aware of your death, though I  have thought of you often . May you rest in peace ......

Rest in Peace to the man that has been a huge part of my life for the last 30+ years. From being at my graduation, walking me down the isle twice, taking the grandfather role to my children and most importantly being the love of my mothers life and taking care of her until the day he died. 
Oh how can I forget also being the man who got me in the car business and contributed to where/who I am today. I couldn't ask for a better role model.

Thank you!

You will always be loved and dearly missed!

What do you say about someone you've known every moment of your life.? We were sitting at a blackjack table in Vegas and he had a big gaudy Mercedes ring on and a girl sitting next to me asked if he was the Mercedes dealer on TV all of the time. I told her yes he was Captain Al and owned the Mercedes store. She loved it.  We were flying on SW to an auction and Al gave a business card to a stewardess to give to the pilot. He had written "Give this gentleman a beer on me" Herb Kelleher. The pilot laughed and sent us 2 beers. That was Al or Captain Al as we called him while gambling.  Al will always be remembered as my big brother.

Bill and I were so sorry to hear of Albert's death. We enjoyed our visit last year with Al and Diana at our beach house and I wish we had had more visits! He was a great person and a wonderful cousin. 

Forgive me for another memory but I couldn’t edit my first. My big cousin was forever adored when his snotty would-be hipster-aspiring cousin (uh, geeks can never achieve hippie-hood and I was a Lord of the Rings-lovin’ geek) received his retired naval apparel. I proudly wore the multiple pairs of naval pants for decades plus in New Mexico and Colorado until pregnancies wreaked havoc with my physique. I wish I’d saved them for my daughters. That beautiful picture of him above reminded me of that gleeful day at G’ma and G’pa’s when he conveyed that highly coveted retired gear - except I was the blissed out one. I married a Naval Vietnam era draftee who never saw any action beyond the edge of a Bethesda golf course (yeah, draft a researcher, USA, and you get “rainbows and unicorns”.) Albert (could never call him the diminutive “Al,” a reluctance arising from my junior status) was the real thing. My David flinches when people thank him for his service - Albert deserved those expressions of gratitude from children that my guy gets.
I met Diana once - I saw the adoration he held for her. I’m so happy that he had that family experience that we all struggle to experience. And I inherited enough of the Williams’ mystical Philicrucian (Christian Sufis - G’pa’s familial religious identity) mentality that I believe he is alive in this quantum universe. He and Edward would/will appreciate my “Szczepanski”-surnamed grandson as our genes seem to flower in Polish soil (as our Meitzen provincial origin in Silesia is on border of Poland and Germany).
I wish I was more mobile and could extend my gratitude for his “leadership” of a pack of 22 (right?) cousins, skewed 2/3 male. He had G’ma’s special adoration and knew how to get her oriented to behaving “grandmotherly/maternal” - not her natural inclination. I’ve been so preoccupied with sustaining Bryson family bonds as they scatter and reproduce that I forget how remarkable my cousin cohort is. Albert was exemplary. Thank you.


DiAnna, I remember the light in your eyes and the smile on your face whenever you first described this new man in your life.  I knew right then and there, this was going to be your "forever".  I also remember watching Al's face, as he watched you walk down the aisle at your wedding.  He was beaming.  I was honored to be a part of that ceremony 28 years ago and I'm even more honored and blessed to have known him.  My thoughts, prayers and condolences to you and yours.  He will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.  God bless you and yours, now and always.

The eldest male grandchild (as I was the eldest female grandchild) of one of the kindest namesake grandfathers imaginable (remember the “badges” G’pa would make for us from the shop’s Coca Cola metal caps cork liners, wielding his penknife?) and one of the most interesting (and tall) grandmothers ever (Socialist, who’d have guessed as G’ma covertly indoctrinated us!?!). An independent spirit who helped (as did his brother) with my homework subjects when I asked, allowed me to participate in pickup sports games with the boys in the empty lot by the ditch (I guess “bayou” is the upscale term since West U is now an even wealthier zip code than River Oaks) and was kind and fun.  I hope he had an exciting and satisfying life. He deserved the best.  
If anyone doesn’t have the award winning  and extraordinarily well researched University of Illinois (Chicago) PhD thesis about our Meitzen family (Grandma’s family), contact me. We’re descended from remarkable forefathers and mothers - Albert would have recognized himself in this independent, risk taking, and brave family. 

My memories are many. Bowling on Pepsi team at bowling alley. Also visiting at Hoosier Lake in Indiana. Bringing the kids down and staying on Galveston island. Lastly visiting with Al,Dianna,Ed, Gene and Katie before she passed. Enjoyed taking a Texas trip with Al &Dianna. All good memories. Will miss him.

I am his cousin from Ohio (formerly from Detroit, MI), the son of Julian Szkody.  Although I have not seen him since the late 1960s, I remember him and his brother Eddie when they visited their Grandmother.  We went bowling and cruising along Lake St Clair and played street hockey in Grandma's basement.  Good memories of old times.
   ~ Ron Szkody


OBITUARY

Albert Ellis Szkody

2 October, 1947 – 8 August, 2019

Heights Funeral Home

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