Alan L Bain

Born in Hertfordshire, England, to Scottish parents, Alan was proud of his heritage and carried it with him throughout his life. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law from St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge, before emigrating to the United States in 1961 to attend Columbia Law School, where he served as class president all three years and graduated in 1964.

Alan began his career with the law firm Debevoise & Plimpton before founding World-Wide Business Centres, Inc. in 1970. Decades ahead of its time, World-Wide pioneered the shared office environment in Midtown Manhattan—what the world would later know as co-working. For more than fifty years, Alan built not just a company, but a community. Many of his devoted staff members spent their entire professional lives there, and he took special pride in mentoring young people as they launched their own paths. Among World-Wide’s early clients was a young Michael Bloomberg, who began his financial data enterprise from a suite of World-Wide offices. Alan delighted in seeing others succeed and considered those professional friendships among the finest chapters of his career.

A lifelong entrepreneur and problem-solver, Alan was also a leader in the Scottish-American community. As longtime President of the American-Scottish Foundation, he worked to strengthen cultural and educational ties between Scotland and the United States. He championed the creation of National Tartan Day in Congress, launched the first New York City Tartan Day Parade in 1999, and helped ensure that April 6 would forever be celebrated as a day of Scottish pride and heritage.

Alan’s achievements were recognized on both sides of the Atlantic. He received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 1995, an honorary degree from Queen Margaret University in 2009, and the Scottish Leadership Award for International Service in 2011. He also maintained an ownership interest in Carloway Mill on the Isle of Lewis, supporting Harris Tweed artisans and preserving the enduring craftsmanship of that iconic textile.

For more than sixty years, Alan was a beloved member of The University Club of New York, known for his warmth, wit, and formidable squash game. He founded the annual Percy S. Douglas Debate in 2003, which remains a cherished tradition, and helped establish the Club’s revered annual Burns Night Dinner.

Alan will be remembered as a visionary, a builder, and a man of deep kindness and generosity. His boundless energy, optimism, and love of connection enriched countless lives—and he leaves a legacy that continues to inspire.

Alan was married for 47 years to Linda Miller Bain, who predeceased him in 2006. In 2013, he married Catherine “Katie” Bain, who remained by his side with unwavering devotion. He is survived by Katie; his children Heather Bain and Ian Bain; his daughter-in-law Jill Calabrese Bain; and his cherished grandchildren Andrew and Emma.

A funeral for Mr. Bain will be held at 12:00pm on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, 1085 Fifth Avenue (90th Street), New York City

In lieu of flowers, for those wishing to honor Mr. Bain, the family is suggesting contributions may be made in his honor to Columbia Law School contact Margaret King or the Alzheimer's Foundation of America