ALSON (AL) DEMING BRALEY
WINGDALE – Alson (Al) Deming Braley, 80, a 20 year resident of Wingdale passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at the NYS Veterans’ Home in Montrose, NY from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
Al was born December 11, 1936 in Iowa City, IA the son of Alson E and Hazel Deming Braley. In 1954 Al graduated from City High in Iowa City, IA and attended the University of Iowa, graduating in 1961 with a Bachelors’ Degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1957 he enlisted in the US Army Reserve, spending two years active duty at Ft. Eustis, VA. In 1961 he accepted a position with Illinois Bell Telephone Co. In 1964 he finished an advanced course in Engineering Economics from Illinois Institute of Technology. In 1972 he accepted a position with AT&T in Basking Ridge, NJ. He retired in 1994 from Bell Communication Research. After retiring, he and his wife moved to Wingdale where they were closer to their favorite New England rivers and streams.
Al was a life member of the Appalachian Mountain Club and enjoyed the outdoors, especially paddling a canoe down a river. He and his wife lead numerous canoe trips for the New York – North Jersey Chapter of the AMC. He and his wife Fran were past Co-Chairs Canoe Committee of the New York – North Jersey Chapter of the AMC. They wrote a booklet on how to get started paddling with the AMC called “The Feathers”. They also developed leadership workshops helping new members to develop the skills necessary to lead canoe trips. Al and Fran will probably be best remembered for organizing and leading overnight camping trips in February on the Mullica River in NJ and their New Years Day trips on Cedar Creek in NJ or the Ten Mile River in Dover, NY. Al was past Chair of the NY – NoJ Chapter of the AMC, past Chair of the AMC Interchapter Canoe Committee, and past Regional Director of the AMC. Al became interested in genealogy and spent many hours tracing his heritage travelling to various court houses and cemeteries documenting his ancestors’ lives. His greatest discovery was that he was related to the Wings who established Wingdale.
On August 16, 1958 in Virginia Beach, VA, Al married Frances (Fran) Weber. Al is survived by his wife, at home, and children Dawn Braley Valero and her husband Noel of Princeton Junction, NJ and Randall Braley and his wife Tina of Hillsborough, NJ; 4 grandchildren, Alina Valero Avery and her husband Matthew, Eric Valero, Mason Braley and Logan Braley; his brother, William H. Braley of Santa Anna TX; his sister, Janet Braley of 29 Palms CA and 3 nieces.
His body was donated to Medical Science. There will be a Celebration of his Life at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Appalachian Mountain Club; the Town of Dover Historical Society; The Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of your choice.
