Alan Popkin passed away peacefully on January 20, 2023 at his home in St. Louis, Missouri. He was 89 years old.
Alan believed strongly in being honest, accepting others for who they are, and going after what you love. He was born in New York City to Estelle and Murray Popkin and moved to St. Louis as a young boy. He attended Country Day School where he made many lifelong friends. He then attended Yale University but left before graduating to pursue a career as an actor. Alan appeared in a Broadway show, but then decided to move back to St. Louis to be with his beloved mother when his father passed away. Shortly thereafter he met and married his first wife Rochelle Popkin.
Alan attended Washington University Law School where he graduated first in his class and became Editor of the Washington University Law Review. He had an illustrious career as a lawyer. He argued a case in front of the United States Supreme Court and became a member of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. Alan had a gift for uncovering hidden truths and expressing them with clarity and compassion. He believed deeply in the American system of justice, despite its faults.
Alan loved the game of bridge and achieved the rank of Grand Life Master, a title only currently held by one other person in St. Louis. He enjoyed playing with many friends and especially with his second wife Nancy Popkin. Alan also loved to fish and many of his happiest moments were on a lake far away from civilization on a fishing boat. Whenever he would catch a fish, he would kiss it, instruct it on how to be more careful next time it saw a hook, and then throw it back in the water. Alan also loved spending time with his dogs. His dogs never begged at the table because they didn’t have to—he would feed them from his own fork.
Alan felt extremely grateful for the life he lived and all of the people (and animals) he loved: his beloved wife Nancy Popkin, his daughters Maureen Chiquet, Suzanne Popkin and Andrea Main, his stepchildren Brook Spear and Michael Blake Morris, his grandchildren Pauline and Mimi Chiquet, Dmitri, Ezra and Nadia Gaskin, Savannah and Isabella Main, Sabrina, Jordan, and Alexis Morris, his first wife Rochelle Popkin, his many friends from bridge, fishing, wine tastings, and Country Day, his many colleagues and clients, and most importantly, his beloved dogs, Georgie, BoBo, Bella Lulu, Scout and Sixty.
There will be a Visitation on Thursday January 25th after 11:30 AM at Berger Memorial Chapel, 9430 Olive Blvd. 63132. The Funeral service will begin at 12 PM and interment will follow at United Hebrew Cemetery, 7855 Canton Ave. 63130. Memorial contributions preferred to the APA of Missouri (apamo.org). Visit www.bergermemorialchapel.com for more information.
BERGER MEMORIAL SERVICE
