In Memoriam: Jan Altizer October 25, 1946 - August 30, 2012 A Celebration of Her Life in Text & Photos

Text updated on 11 April, 2013
Photos updated on 19 June, 2013

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Born and raised in Huntington, West Virginia, Jan graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts in English & Speech from Marshall University and worked as an English teacher for the next year in a Jr. High School in Washington Court House, Ohio. She married Dorr, a career NCO in the Air Force, after he returned from a tour in Viet Nam, on June 21, 1969, beginning a wonderful 43 years of marriage. The Air Force moved Dorr several times over the following years and Jan went with him to all of the assignments, beginning with March Air Force Base, Riverside, California, then to Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico, then to Kincheloe Air Force Base, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, then to Spangdahlem Air Force Base, Germany, and finally Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, Arizona in 1979. She lived in Kenya, East Africa, from 1985 to 1986 while Dorr was on assignment in the US Embassy in Nairobi. In 1979, they bought a John F. Long home in Maryvale, a "master planned" community in Phoenix, Arizona, and lived there until 1999. Dorr retired from the Air Force in 1990 and Jan searched for a new, bigger home for the next nine years before finally finding what she wanted in Kingswood Parke in Surprise, Arizona.

Jan had many interesting jobs after Dorr retired, From 1992 to 1993 she was a Production Assistant for the West Valley View Newspaper in Litchfield Park; from 1993 to 1996 she was an Independent Graphics Designer for Tad Lane Creations in Surprise; from 1996 to 1999 she was a Graphic Designer for General Metals Mfg. & Supply Co. (an HVAC company) in Phoenix; from 1999 to 2007 was a Customer Training Administrator at Honeywell International in Phoenix, after which she retired and became a full time housewife. Becoming bored with the housework, in 2010 she began working part time as a Writer/Editor and Administrator for Recchion And Associates, Inc. in Phoenix.

As you can see in the photos below, Jan was a tall, willowy, long legged, beautiful blonde who was proud of her figure and especially what she considered her best feature: her long, beautiful legs - she spent a lot of hours on her treadmill keeping them in excellent shape. Many people thought Jan was fragile, but she was tougher than she looked. Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 9, in the 1980's and 90's she survived three bouts with cancer. One consequence of her life-long self-imposed exercise program was that she found it difficult to find clothes that fit well so, beginning in her teens, she made almost all of her clothes and became an excellent seamstress, with a passion for knitting, very quickly. The only things she ever bought were underwear, shoes (she loved spike heels) and swim wear (she loved wearing her bikini to the beach). Her knitting skills ranged from catnip-stuffed cat toys to dresses and everything in between. She's wearing one of her knitted dress designs in three of the photos below (in the middle of the second row) and she also made all of the other clothes in the photos, except for the T-Shirts (her "house wear" of choice).

Jan loved cats and most of the 15 or so she had over the years lived to be around 20 years old, a witness to her loving care. But she also loved people and volunteered with many service organizations such as the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the Surprise Senior Center. She also loved rock and roll and when she bought her new Honda Civic in April, 2012, she only put one CD in the player: an AC/DC album that she played constantly, happily singing along with every song.

Jan died peacefully from "Encephalopathy (a syndrome of global brain dysfunction) and Acute Respiratory Failure due to, or as a consequence of, Anoxic Brain Injury, Cardiac Arrest and Coronary Artery Disease" (quoting the death certificate).

For 43 years, Jan was my best friend, lover, companion, confidant and wife and I miss her terribly. She wasn't a religious person but I believe she went to Cat Lovers Heaven, where it just got a little brighter, happier and more organized and the scenery is definitely more beautiful.

Make a Donation to the Sun Valley Animal Shelter in Jan's Memory

The Sun Valley Animal Shelter was Jan's favorite charity and we've been making monthly donations to them for many years. The shelter is located at 7150 N.110th Avenue, Glendale, Arizona 85307-2800, just north of the Glendale Municipal Airport. Donations may be made by snail mail or directly from their web site or their Facebook page.

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Notice: Photos marked "Adults Only" contain nudity and are not suitable for children of any age.

Dorr Altizer, Webmaster Phan Rang, RVN, 1968-69 Copyright © 2012, All Rights Reserved
Privacy Policy: We do not track or retain any personal information about your visit to this domain. If you are looking for the TrainNet.org International Railway Links, formerly located on this domain, they moved (on 7 June, 2011) to www.trainnet.org/IRL/rwlinks.htm This site was last updated on 19 June, 2013.