Our Father/Grandfather (Poppy), Alfred Balkin, passed away on 3/23/16. (His wife Rita preceded him 6 years ago) Clever and musically gifted, Al's career began as a dashing young New York performer, who went by the stage name Alan Blake. After earning his Doctorate of Education at Columbia University, he became a known song writer for the Captain Kangaroo show in the 1970's, and a beloved Professor of Music and Education at Western Michigan University. His most meaningful projects, by his own account , were his children's opera "The Musicians of Bremem", which has been performed over the years around the country, and his song cycle "Tune Up to Literacy". After he and his wife Rita, retired to Hilton Head, Al became a recognizable celebrity around the "Lowcountry" for his frequent one-man shows at the South Carolina Repertory Theatre. Here, Al's fingers would eloquently fly across the keyboard while he sang show stopping lyrics, and charmed the audience with his stories about the famous composers behind the music, including the Gershwin Brothers, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and Johnny Mercer. How lucky where his grandchildren to inherit this amazing talent! To his own children he passed on his clever wit and athleticism. Even with two knee replacements, Al could still maneuver around the tennis court to hit a walloping forehand and crack a groan-worthy pun or two. While music was his passion, Rita, his spouse for 58 years, was the love of his life.. While going through Al's papers, we found many handwritten cards and correspondence between them. Each note so beautiful, poignant, tender, and in a perfect cursive, (Rita's not Al's), that was so telling of their generation, and sadly a lost art for those that followed. Al could hardly part with Rita's ashes at her favorite place in Hilton Head, Dolphin's Head. His devotion was so deep for Rita, that unbeknownst to us he buried part of her ashes in his plot at Beaufort National Cemetery, so he could spend eternity with his best friend, wife, and soul mate. How lucky we were to have had such an amazing role model. Interment and a graveside Memorial service with Taps, will be at Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, SC on Friday, March 25 at 9:45 a.m. Open house at The Cypress Club Hilton Head Plantation from 1:00 – 3:00pm Condolences will be at our home, 1145 Green Bay Road, Glencoe Il. Saturday, April 2nd, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. In honor of Al, who loved not only Rita, but also almost all forms of chocolate, a variety of chocolates will be available to celebrate his life, and Gershwin will play softly in the background. With Love his family: Michael, Bonnie, Tyler and Jamie Balkin/ Linda Balkin and Chris Alvarado The Island Funeral Home and Crematory. theislandfuneralhome.com