Obits 2013

From BACDS Country Dancer No. 96 December 2013

Obituary: Al Medcalf by Chris Folger

Long-time BACDS dancer Al Medcalf passed away on October 24. He is remembered as a flamboyant personality who danced to the beat of his own drum. His white hair and beard brought to mind the classic image of an old sea captain, and he was the center of attention at many dances through the years. Holly Earl, a long-time friend of Al’s, recalled him this way:

Al told me, when he introduced himself for the first time, that he was “Crazy Al.” I'd say he was Creative Al. Al often seemed to challenge the boundaries of convention in service of creating a smile and memorable moments of joy in those he interacted with, whether it be in contra dancing, or in ordinary conversation. Al’s playful spirit was a special asset to the antics at the Sierra Swing contra dance camp that he attended many times. Al would enthusiastically join in and creatively add to activities such as the skits and the auction, whether he was originally planned to be part of the skit or not! When Sierra Swing was held in Mendocino, he invited all to visit his nearby alternative living space, which had an eclectic decor of hundreds of colorful found objects, each room artfully arranged by Al to provide the visitor with the experience of becoming immersed in a living artwork. At Bay Area contra dances, I recall times the times when I reached the end of the line with a dance partner, to find that we were suddenly a threesome as Al created a new dance variation around us. I will greatly miss Al with his playful spirit and his kind heart.