Alan R. Panker

A lifelong New Bedford resident, he graduated from St. Anne’s Catholic School in 1964 and Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School in 1968. He was employed for several years by Standard Fastenings in Fairhaven, MA and by the City of New Bedford Public Works Department until his retirement. In 1998, Al was appointed as Fence Viewer by then city clerk Janice Davidian, a position dating back to colonial times and contained in the City Code, to resolve disputes over fences that exceeded legal height limit and neighbors who disputed their boundaries. He also served in the US Army and was a former Notary Public.

Growing up on Brock Avenue, Al loved the deep South End where he enjoyed swimming at the beaches in the summer and ice skating at the Poor Farm in the winter. A well known bulldog enthusiast, his pedigreed English bulldog garnered national and international attention for a multitude of published photographs throughout the Whaling City from both President Ronald Reagan and Queen Elizabeth II and in 1982, Al championed an effort with the NB City Park Board to designate a boulder in Hazelwood Park in the South End as Bulldog Rock, after his beloved bulldog, Panker’s MacMillan or as he was affectionately known, “Max”. The rock was dedicated on September 25, 1983 by former Mayor Brian Lawler and stands today. He also had special fondness for Horseneck Beach in Westport and time spent with his son digging for clams and diving in the waves. Al had a passion for music and was an accomplished saxophone player.

He is survived by a son, Jay A. Panker and his wife Renee (Ayotte) Panker and grandson Nathan Panker of Dartmouth, MA; former wife, Kathleen (Andrade) Panker also of Dartmouth; two sisters, Jo Ann McEwen and husband Doug of Saunderstown, RI and Nancy Duarte and fiancé Jim Rizzo of Mattapoisett, MA; and three nieces; Lauren, Kate, and Riley McEwen also of Saunderstown, RI.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2018 from 1:00 to 2:00pm followed by a Memorial Service at 2:00pm in the WARING-SULLIVAN HOME AT DARTMOUTH, 230 Russells Mill Rd., Dartmouth. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. For online tributes please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com