William Laurens Van Alen, Jr.

Bill Van Alen, a true original, champion athlete and devout Christian, died Wednesday at his home in Newtown Square, PA after a characteristically brave battle with brain cancer. William L. Van Alen, Jr. was born in Philadelphia, PA March 21, 1933, the son of William L. Van Alen and Elizabeth Kent Van Alen. He attended Haverford School in Haverford, PA and graduated from St. Paul's School in Concord, NH. After three years at the U.S. Naval Academy, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and won a law degree from Villanova University. Bill clerked for Chief Justice Bell of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, practiced law and competed in many sports, winning championships in court tennis, lawn tennis and golf. He was a member of the Seminole, Pine Valley and Gulph Mills Golf Clubs and the State in Schuylkill. He founded and later sold a Christian principled mutual fund, the Noah Fund. Bill was involved with a number of Christian charities to which he gave generously of time and funds. He is survived by his mother; his wife, Judith Frost Kanzler Van Alen; four children, Alexandra Frazier of Haverford, PA, William L. Van Alen of Minneapolis, MN, Dina Gibson of Devon, PA and Lucas Van Alen of Palm Beach, FL; his brother, James L. Van Alen of Newtown Square, PA; his sister, Cassandra Ludington of Palisades, NY and six grandchildren. Bill's extraordinary enthusiasms about life, religion, work and sport, enriched by a self-deprecating sense of humor, created his unusual character. He was much loved by his family and an army of friends. A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 20 at Proclamation Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr, PA. In Lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to the Philadelphia Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Universities and Schools (FOCUS). Please make checks payable to FOCUS/Philadelphia, P.O. Box 4870, Stamford, CT 06907. Arrangements by The Donohue Funeral Home, 3300 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA (610) 353-6300 To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries Published in The Palm Beach Post on Feb. 19, 2010