Alan E. Seymour Obituary
Alan Edward Seymour, 96, died peacefully, at home on February 17, 2026, with family by his side -- remarkably, just next door to his birthplace.
He was born at home on May 2, 1929, living nearly his entire life on Adams Ave., Norwalk. He was the fifth of six children of the late Arthur Norman and Lillian Ruscoe Seymour. His was a lively childhood, rich with the camaraderie of his brothers, sisters, and neighborhood pals who ran around like The Little Rascals. While attending Center Junior High, Alan met and fell in love with Gloria Card. At his 90th birthday party, he quipped to the crowd how he wished he had met her sooner. Both graduates of Norwalk High School's Class of 1947, they married on Sept. 4, 1950, in St. Mary's Church. They lived in several Norwalk apartments before they bought and renovated their forever home, next door to his birthplace.
Together they created a Camelot, raising six children with love and the highest expectations. We could write a book of the life lessons he taught us -- for example: "When you answer the doorbell and someone is waiting to come in, don't just stand there. Make believe you're happy to see them.". With each year, as the size of his circle increased, he embraced his sprawling family of Seymours, Walshes, and Wraggs with the fiercest love. Over time, much to his delight, his family expanded to include a son-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He even had a great-grandson named for him.
Alan embodied many of the characteristics of the Greatest Generation: Patriotism. For country, and for Norwalk. Six months after his wedding, he was drafted into the Army and sent to Germany to serve during the post-occupation period following World War II. He served for 18 months, rising to the rank of Sargeant. Always, Alan kept up to date with local and national politics, supporting leaders with character and integrity. He was so proud to belong to Norwalk, and praised famous Norwalkers, like Judge Bobby Callahan and Mo Vaughn. During basketball season, he'd park in the Central Catholic School parking lot, hoping that its high elevation would improve the reception on a staticky transistor radio so he could hear Calvin Murphy's victories.
A tenacious work ethic: finding solutions, the day-to-day routine, and being with people. (He told his granddaughter that the best advice his mother ever gave him was: "Get a good, real job.") From his beginning as a teenage soda jerk and newspaper carrier, he worked his entire life. From ages 18-54, he worked various positions at various branches of Connecticut National Bank, including many years in South Norwalk. Over the years, we'd hear from people who swore he was the only banker who would approve them for a loan, which had changed their lives. In 1983, he found a new job and new friends at Herbert Heating Oil. Then, his job at Wragg Brothers Well Drilling pitched as a temporary position, blossomed into him staying until he retired at age 90. We love telling our friends that our dad retired at 90.
Commitment to his marriage and children. His world revolved around Gloria, his bride of 75 years. He told his granddaughter he loved a big family because "there was always something going on.". Alan would drive us and all our friends anywhere we asked to go, from Wood Ponds ice skating to college drop-offs. He was a regular fan at hundreds of events, from Little League, Pony League, and Parks and Rec baseball games to cheer for his sons; Carrie's basketball games through high school and college; and then to watch her coach her Pace University women's basketball team; school plays, band and choral concerts; constant trips to the beach. It is incalculable how many hours that man spent in the car. Even when he had to carve a six-inch oval on the snowy windshield to be able to see. Alan was a true partner, doing his share of housework in a time period when that wasn't the norm. He was always vacuuming or doing dishes when the kids argued over whose turn it was. He was so proud that his kids all graduated from college. Our friends always told us how lucky we were to have him. He loved the arrivals of each grandchild and great-grandchild, always wanting to be the one to hold them. They allowed him to extend the same encouragement, and pride in whatever they were doing, from sports, band competitions, plays, school Grandparent Days, to watching them run up the back hill.
Responsibility. Having grown up in the Depression, Alan lived a no-frills kind of life. He and Gloria shared one car for many years. Nothing was wasted if it could be fixed or painted black. There was no such thing as air-conditioning, or a dishwasher. He refused to buy a brand-new car. Ever.
For fun, he enjoyed traveling to wherever Gloria planned for them to go, Cape Cod, California, amazing Elderhostel adventures, a river rafting trip down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Alan spearheaded the annual beach week in Narragansett, RI for 35 years, when three generations of families would cram into a beach house to enjoy time together.
Also, he was a huge lifelong fan of sports, playing, or cheering. In high school, Alan was co-captain of both the hockey team and baseball team, for which he was inducted into the Oldtimers Association in 1994. As a young dad, he played baseball in rec leagues and enjoyed Tuesday night bowling league. He rooted for the Yankees, Giants, and UCONN Women's Basketball team, but his all-time favorite team was the Pace University Women's Basketball team, coached by Carrie.
Alan is survived by his wife, Gloria, the love of his life, married for 75 years, and their six children: Mark, of Fairfield; Rebecca Sweeney (Bill), of Norwalk; Peter of East Hampton; Carrie, of Ossining, NY; Luke (Debbie) of Rockwood, ME; and Paul (Sabrina) of Trumbull. Also, eight grandchildren: Rachel Rouleau (Jared), Bridget Sweeney; Laura Leatherman (Ian); Joshua Seymour (Nikki); Ben Seymour (fiancé, Shannon); Tim Seymour; Hannah Seymour; and Kevin Seymour. Also, eight great-grandchildren: Nicole and Landon Vaillancourt; Lyla, Olive, and Alan Rouleau; and Caroline, Emily, and Willam Leatherman. He is survived by his sisters-in-law, Gaye Seymour and Joan Wragg; a crowd of nieces and nephews; and many friends. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his dear siblings, Gene, Lois, Bob, Russell, Lee; brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Lucille Walsh; brother-in-law, Bruce Wragg; and his dear grandson, Drew. We owe extreme gratitude to Christina, Ronda, Vida, Carmeta, Geoisbour, Claudia, Ari, and Hospice nurses Jackie and Joanne, for the compassionate care and companionship provided to Alan, which meant everything to him, and to us.
Alan struggled with Gloria's memory loss in recent years. But that hardship and his death will not diminish how unstoppable he is. When we commit to each other, cheer for a team, refuse to buy a brand-new car, remember where we are from; hold a baby, work hard, give loved ones rides, he will always be with us.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 14, 12-3 p.m., with a 2 p.m. prayer service, at Magner Funeral Home, 12 Mott Ave., Norwalk.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Pace University Women's Basketball Team may be made in his memory.
The family will receive friends with a prayer service at 2 p.m.
