Obituary of Henry Alan Schmucker

Alan Schmucker, age 86 of Cape May, passed away on Friday, December 22, 2023 surrounded by his family and his hero, Rose. Born Henry Alan Schmucker on March 31, 1937 in Washington, D.C., he moved as a young child to Minnesota and eventually made New Jersey his permanent residence. He graduated high school from Southwest Minnesota High School where he was a star three-letter Varsity athlete. This is also where he achieved the high honor of Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow. He went on to graduate from Carlton College and the University of Minnesota, where he earned a Master's degree. He was an avid sports fan and a phenomenal athlete. He was a Southwest Minnesota High School state track champion and a member of the Carlton College Football Hall of Fame. Upon graduating college, he even received offers from the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants to play professional football. He spent his early working career as a history, economics, and political science teacher at Haddonfield High School and Washington Township High School while spending his summers in Cape May. After retiring from teaching, he returned to Cape May to make it his permanent residence. There, he bought and created several businesses including the Sandcastle Guest House and the Bedford Inn Bed and Breakfast. He spent over 30 years working as an innkeeper regaling travelers with stories of old Cape May. Upon retiring for the second time, he spent his days relaxing on the beaches of Cape May, enjoying his home on the canal where he became known as Big Al and Canal Al, gardening, tending to his yard, and rooting for the Eagles. He is pre-deceased by his brother, John Schmucker. He is survived by his three sons, Steve (Debbie) Schmucker, James (Patty) Schmucker, and Kurt (Dawn) Schmucker and seven grandchildren, Mike Schmucker, Lauren Ryerson-Russo (Daniel), James, Jacqui, and Isabella Schmucker, and Abby and Julia Schmucker. He is also survived by one brother, Fred K. Schmucker, of Washington. A visitation will be held on Friday, January 5, 2024 from 1-2 pm at the Evoy Funeral Home located at 3218 Bayshore Road, North Cape May, New Jersey, 08204. The viewing will be followed by a short service at 2pm with burial to follow at Cold Spring Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Alan's memory may be made to Wounded Warriors Project at support.woundedwarriorproject.org.