Alex, born Alexander Chalfan Hyde, Jr. in Van Nuys, Calif., and the beloved son of Alexander Chalfan Hyde and Elizabeth Ethel (Connon) Hyde, passed away from a massive stroke and in a coma from which he did not recover at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Nov. 14. He was 68.
Alex grew up in Santa Monica and, with his brother, John Hyde, enjoyed playing cowboy, soldier and space explorer at home and with neighbors, based on popular movies and TV shows of the 1950s.
The brothers swam at the beach or nearby at their cousins’, the Schaeffers’, house, where they often played sports and board games. Alex and John went camping in Mexico with close family friends, the Knights. The brothers looked forward to frequent weekend activities with John Schaeffer and Robin Knight, who made it four boy musketeers.
Alex pursued two hobbies passionately, astronomy and photography.
Alex graduated Santa Monica High School in 1967, graduated noted photography college Brooks Institute in Ventura, Calif., and had two successful careers.
He served as a photographer in the Navy, principally aboard two West Coast-Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers, which included a tour of combat air operations in the Vietnam War, and at the Naval Air Station in Miramar, Calif. With 20 years of combined active and reserve service, Alex retired at the rank of Petty Officer, First Class.
Also, Alex took pride as a portrait photographer at prominent Los Angeles studios and for many years managed the camera store at the upscale Brentwood Mart, where Alex also advised many celebrity customers.
Alex liked traveling abroad and making friends. Single but with two long-term girlfriends over the years, Alex delighted in participating in and photographing family events. He often invited his nephew and niece, Mark Hyde and Sandra Hyde, to visit and swim at his home in the 1990s In Westminster, Calif.
At Alex’s bedside when he passed were his brother, John Hyde, and his brother’s wife, Jean (Guzzetti) Hyde, of Culver City, Calif.
Alex was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived, respectively, by his brother, sister-in-law, nephew and niece, John, Jean and Mark Hyde and Sandra Hyde-Morales, five grand nephews and nieces and numerous cousins.
Alex will be cremated. Memorial arrangements are pending. In lieu of giving flowers, donations may be made to the ASPCA.
Love to Alex,
Love to All
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