Mr. Laxdal was my English teacher and I was also his TA in 86 or something.  I will never forget the moment after class he told me to toss a book list we could choose from and handed me a copy of Crime and Punishment.  

From then on, I don't think I even turned in a paper, we just sat over lunch several times to talk about it.  He then kept handing me these amazing books to read and for us to discuss... Trumbo, McCullers, Steinbeck.  Alan would always press me to get to the subtext of these great masterpieces... a skill that I carry with me to this day.  He told me not to worry about my grade, just keep reading.

I just cannot begin to express my appreciation for the extra time he spent with me and how he invested so much into his students.
His blast furnace dry sense of humor was also legendary. 

Even though it has been nearly ten years since his passing, he is dearly, dearly missed by me and many others. What I would give to chat about books together again. He was just an extraordinary teacher and person. 

Alan has been on my mind for a year now; I tried to find him and could not. 
I was in his class in my freshman and senior year at Snohomish and he impacted me, my ability to think, and write more than anyone outside of my Father. He and I kept in touch after I graduated and after he retired, but not much in the last 15 years. This saddens me and I hope (and think) that he knows the impact he had on me ( and others).
He had that rare ability to encourage you to find yourself and express it. I still remember going up to his desk and asking questions. He would ask me questions and when the light bulb came on so did his smile and sparkling eyes. They seemed to say, " I knew you could do it". The confidence that his style of teaching inspired is so precious and rare. I will miss him and loved him so very much.
Marze (Marcia Pease)

Thank you, Mr. Laxdal, for always demanding the best from your students.  I learned so much from you!

Never forget your witty sense of humor, and your twinkling eyes Mr Laxdal...May God comfort your family and loved ones.

I had him for English in 9th grade...he was an a great teacher..we had to read things like Edith Wharton's Great Expectations and such.  I do remember his love for Eng. Lit...Many fond memories...my thoughts are with your family and loved ones...Aletha Helm-Riter (Everett)

I had the pleasure of studying English with Mr. Laxdal during my freshman, junior and senior year; senior year I was actually his teacher's aide for a freshman class. He taught me to love literature and always do my best work. Thanks to him, I am now an English teacher. Not a day passes that I do not think of him fondly and gratefully. I will always remember his wry smile, twinkling eyes, and how he smelled of Old Spice and peppermint. Rest in Peace, Alan.

For those of us fortunate enough to have been students of one or more members of the "Great Triumvirate": Boling, Walker and Laxdal, March 23,2011 marks a very sad day.  How cool was it when, decades ago, those superb dedicated teachers bought some acreage east of town and built their homes in the midst of the woods, virtually within earshot of each other;  there they remained.  How much cooler have our lives been having had them as our teachers/mentors/friends!If I'm not mistaken, Charlie (Boling)has looked after Alan's affairs for the past five years and has visited him daily. All of us are certainly saddened at Alan's passing, perhaps none more than Charlie. 
Rest in peace Alan.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

I had the privilege of being a student of Alan’s in school but it wasn’t until I became his neighbor that I realized just what a special person he was. He loved and cherished his years at Snohomish High and knew, even though he was an easy target for some students, he was a great influence and was admired by many. Very proud of the accomplishments that former students had achieved, he would tell me stories from when he had them as students and the influence he may have had. 
Once a teacher, always a teacher…he was always giving me advice on various things - how, when, and what to plant where, the proper way to wash clothes or take care of a clock, etc. He could drive some crazy with his unrequested guidance, but I knew that was his love, teaching. Our other very close neighbor (that we lost last August) and I would laugh and just loved Alan for his quirky ways. He had a great sense of humor and was such a giving man.  We had missed him dearly for the past five years when he had to leave his beloved home, his intellectual mind becoming unhealthily forgetful. 
Over the past few years I unfortunately didn’t get to see Alan as much as I wanted but knew he was being well taken care of by not only his caregivers at Emeritus but his very good lifelong friend John Boling. I would like to thank John for his endless hours of looking out for his good friend. It is hard enough going through the thankless processes of a person with dementia being a family member, it is even harder to make decisions and look out for the best interests of a loved one when they are just a friend, but as close as family. John has truly been a Godsend and I know for certain Alan felt the same and was so grateful. 
The last time I saw Alan he remembered me after a few wary minutes and then that twinkle came into his blue eyes, wonderful little smile lighting his face and a big hug. I am very sad that this lovely man is gone although it is a real blessing for him to finally be out of his earthly prison and in the light and happiness of heaven. I am so very thankful and blessed to call him my good friend. 
Alan, I love and will miss you so very much.

Mr laxdal hope you realized how many people truly enjoyed how you taught and how many lives you made so much better with you constant positiveness...

Mr. Laxdal was the best!  I remember sitting in his class feeling safe and inspired.  He made me believe that I was a good writer.  A part of him will be carried on from me to my students as long as I continue to teach what he inspired me to learn. God speed Mr. Laxdal.

After reading all the lovely tributes to Mr. Laxdal, I hope he knew what an impact he made on so many young lives. I know my own children have been the benefactors of his teaching me the importance of the world of reading and imagination.  I hope he knew.

Mr. Laxdal was a one of a kind teacher. He taught us all to have compassion and to really enjoy the great works of liturature. His passion for teaching and in reading to the class will not be forgotten by the students that had the honor of being in his class. I did not realize how much he had actually taught me until I was out of school and saw Great Expectations on tv. RIP Mr. Laxdal and Thank you.

Al Laxdal blessed us by "keeping it fun"
  while we actually learned expression.
Only he could make the ridiculousness of 
"washing the inner workings of a pocket watch" a valuable experience in listening. He is amongst those great teachers who know that more is learned and retained through laughter and a smile. Thanks for your impact on our lives.

Mr. Laxdal was my for my Junior year, 1984-1985.  He really taught me how to write clearly.  In the years to come, I was so grateful for his instruction.  He was such a character- none of his students ever forgot him!

Mr. Laxdal was the best English Teacher I ever had. He said to read. It didn't matter what the subject was. He said to read.

I had Mr. Laxdal for freshman english.   Great Expectations is still one of my favorite books because of his teaching.  In High School he admonished us to go make something of ourselves.  Years later Alan attended one of my piano recitals at the U.W. and proudly exclaimed, "You have made something of yourself!"  He was one of my favorite teachers and his passing saddens me.  I was just thinking of him yesterday, wondering how he was.  Funny how the universe works that way.  Somehow he was probably saying goodbye.

My converstaions with Alan and his vicious wit brghtened my days durng my 3 years in Snohomish.  It was an honor and a pleasure to be known by him.

I too had Mr Laxdal as a teacher...He was an interesting teacher... Lots of memories... May you rest in peace..

Sorry to hear of Mr. Laxdal's passing. He was a good man & a devoted teacher and I thank him. Hopefully he had forgiven me for throwing his seat cushion out the window of his classroom. God bless you Mr. Laxdal.

Peace and love to all of Alan's family and friends as we mourn his passing and celebrate his life.

Mr. Laxdal's English Class was an ejoyable experience for me.  He had a way of teaching that made learning fun and easy.  My prayers are with his family.  I know he will be missed.

I, too, remember the book we had to read in his class "Great Expectations". He was an interesting teacher.  Thanks for those memories.

I enjoyed having Mr. Laxdal as a teacher in high school but always felt he would have been an even better college instructor.  I'm sorry I didn't have the chance to visit with him more often after he retired, he was a very interesting individual.

An English Class with Mr. Laxdal was a memorable experience.  Thanks for those memories.

I'll never forget the way Mr. Laxdal read "Great Expectations" to us in class.  What a colorful teacher he was.

OBITUARY

Alan Laxdal

October 3, 1931 – March 23, 2011

Bauer Funeral Chapel

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