Alan Jon Smally M.D.

Alan Jon “AJ” Smally died in the comfort of his home, per his wishes, on April 17, 2026. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 2, 1949 to Ruth (Glasser) and Donald Smally. Before his first birthday, he moved to Sarasota, Florida. His childhood was almost idyllic. He had fond memories of running barefoot through the creeks and bringing home snakes for pets. After school, he rode his bike to the local spring training ballpark, where he was a bat boy for the rookie White Sox. A pivotal moment of his life was when he joined the swim team at Sarasota High School. That was the beginning of his lifelong love of swimming. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was on the swim team. Chapel Hill is where he came to love college basketball, and he cheered for the Tar Heels the rest of his life. Over the years, he attended NCAA basketball Final Fours, including the iconic 1979 Final Four featuring Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. AJ attended medical school at the University of Florida. After completing his residency, he moved to Colorado Springs to start his career. It was there he met his future wife, Sharon Pool, a physician. In 1987 AJ accepted an Emergency Department position at Hartford Hospital and remained there for 27 years. He served as Medical Director of the ED for many years and retired as Chief of Emergency Medicine. He was an exceptional clinician and role model for attendings and residents alike. He was a highly regarded educator, and residents he trained now work in almost every ED in Connecticut, and well beyond. He was a tireless administrator, serving on the Medical Executive Committee and as Treasurer of the Medical Staff. He was a unifier, had close friends in every department, and was widely liked and admired. Three months after AJ retired, he and Sharon were on the road pulling their Airstream trailer. For six unforgettable years, they took two to three month trips twice a year and covered over 150,000 miles in the USA. In retirement, AJ loved competing in triathlons. He also continued playing poker with high school friends he had known for over 50 years. AJ lived with Multiple System Atrophy for over a decade. He moved through his last years with purpose and strength. He served as a patient representative on the Mission MSA Board for two years. Survivors include wife Sharon, daughter Allyson, son Scott, brother Len, nephew Kevin, sisters-in-law Sue and Jean, nephew Nathan, niece Kari, goddaughter Tiffany, and cousins Kimmy, Martin, and Chris. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ridel Fund for Excellence in MSA Research at the University of Florida. Direct link to donate: https://giving.uff.ufl.edu/giving-opportunities/25117-deb-ridel-fund-for-excellence-in-msa-research/