Alvin H. Feifert, age 90, formerly of Warwick, passed peacefully on June 2 while visiting with his loving family and was embraced warmly by all those who were waiting.
Raised in Coventry, he was the son of August H. and Minna A. (Kochan) Feifert. Al was the youngest of four, growing up in a house built by his father and enjoying all that Lake Tiogue had to offer. He graduated from Coventry High School in 1945 and joined the Merchant Marines. Serving first in the Merchant Marines and later in the Navy, he traveled around the world serving on a number of ships as a navigator, a position of which he was very proud. Following his discharge in 1959, he met and married Nancy V. (Saunders) Feifert. They settled in Warwick in a home built by his mother after his father’s death and raised two daughters. Al and Nancy were married 55 years when Nancy passed away in January of 2016. Al had an inviting smile, an infectious laugh, a dry wit, and a great appreciation for good company and family gatherings. He loved history, science and music. He felt that a person should never be without good music. He enjoyed tinkering and puttering around the house and being outdoors. He loved to explore and seek out local historical sites. Al was a lifelong learner who read about many things, including nature, science, the sea, battles of World War II, and aviation. In recent years, Al marveled at modern chart-plotting technology and satellite navigation and showed his grandchildren his sextant and other navigation tools. He loved birds and all animals. Al’s battle to keep the squirrels in his back yard from depleting the food in his bird feeders was epic. He loved to tell his family of his latest strategies, including greased poles, spinning feeders, and shields. Kind hearted, he would always be sure to leave food elsewhere for the defeated squirrels. In recent years, he enjoyed rides and visits with "his" dog, Mikey. For many years, Al was active in the Masons and was the past Worshipful Master of Mount Vernon Lodge #4.
He is survived by his daughter Kristen Feifert Clark of Sutton, MA, and her husband Dr. Brian Clark, his daughter Kerri L. Panos of Lakeville, MA, and her husband the Hon. Christopher J. Panos, his six grandchildren: Taylor, Kaelen, Madison and MacKenzie Clark and Brogan and Lili Panos, his niece, Marilyn (Feifert) Perrin, and her family; his nephews, Paul Feifert and family, Edward Feifert and family, and sister-in-law Valerie Saunders of Portsmouth, RI. Al was predeceased by his parents, his siblings Paul E. Feifert, Lillian C. Whitford, and Edward Feifert, and niece Carole (Whitford) Simpson, and his brother-in-law Albert D. Saunders, Esq.
He will be buried with military honors at a private service in the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery, Exeter, RI.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Rhode Island S.P.C.A., 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI 02915. www.barrettandcotter.com
