Alvin Surkin - Class of 1951

Alvin Surkin passed away on Sunday October 24, 2021, with his wife of sixty-nine years by his side. He was born on June 21, 1931, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Blanche and his brother Ned (Ann). Al is survived by his wife Catherine, affectionately known as Kitty; his son Lee (Valerie) of Pennsylvania; his son Joe (Katharine) of Mississippi; grandchildren David, Adam (Leian), Mary Kate Dalton (Davis); and Joseph; great grandchildren Shelby, Sawyer, and Evelyn; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Al served honorably in the United States Army for thirty years, primarily with the Military Police/Criminal Investigation Division. He retired in 1981 from Fort Bragg, having achieved the rank of Chief Warrant Officer-4. As part of his time with the CID, he served on Richard Nixon’s presidential detail during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. He served tours all over the United States and abroad in Japan, Korea, and Germany. Among the many honors he received, Al was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, multiple Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. During his service in Korea, he was awarded the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.

After retiring from the Army, he continued in local law enforcement as the Chief Ranger of Parks and Recreation in Fayetteville, and then for thirteen years with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department, retiring in 1999 as a Sergeant with the Detectives Division.

Al was a lover of all sports, playing semiprofessional football and baseball in Philadelphia in the 1940s and 1950s. After he was sidelined by injuries, he took up officiating every sport at every level–from his sons’ little league and school teams to semiprofessional teams, here in the states and abroad.

He was an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church for over 40 years, where he enjoyed singing in the choir and teaching their Safe Environment Training classes.

A memorial service will be held at 11am on Saturday, October 30 at St. Patrick’s with Father Sparrow officiating. A visitation will be held prior at 10am at St. Patrick’s.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those who wish to express their sympathy consider memorials to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church or to their favorite charity in Al’s name.

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