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KUCHIN -- Alger Terrace Kuchin, born Algieras Patras Kucinskas, on Dec 23, 1915 in Chicago, Illinois, died at home in Bainbridge Island, Washington, June 9, 2009 at the age of 93. He was the son of Lithuanian immigrants, Peter and Grace Kuchin. His father had immigrated from Lithuania, reportedly to avoid the Russian draft. His mother was born in Scotland prior to her families move to the US. Al grew up in Chicago, experiencing the full impact of the depression during his youth. At the age of five, following his first day of school, he arrived home and announced to his parents that he was no longer going to speak Lithuanian - because he was an American. He loved baseball as a teenager - actually tried out for one of the Chicago teams as a walk on - reportedly when he came up to bat during the try outs, he was instructed to lay down controlled hits and bunts - he became impatient with the process and, against the coaches instructions, swung away on one of the pitches...and was immediately dismissed from the try outs. He served in the Army Air Corp. during WWII, eventually transitioning into the Air Force and retiring from the military in 1975 with 35 years of service. He met and married Rosetta M. Whipple on September 18, 1948 while stationed at Holloman AFB in Roswell, NM. Shortly after the birth of their first son in 1949, he left the Air Force for a time and he and Rosetta relocated to Albuquerque. He remained in Albuquerque for the next 52 years. He actually enjoyed painting houses and did that for a few years after retiring from the service. His stated "hours of work" rule was - paint no more than 6 hours a day; never more than 2 days in a row; and no more than 4 days a week - if you could live with that, he might fit you in. Fly fishing became a passion mid life & he spent hours at Charlie T's catching, cleaning & giving away the trout and bass that he caught. He had a long standing love of gambling - horses and casinos - more than a little skill at poker in his younger years - in later years in NM he was famous for quick trips to Las Vegas and Laughlin, NV - and during the Bainbridge Island years it was the Suquamish casino where he routinely checked in to play the slots. He was the ultimate minimalist - felt that anything over a couple pairs of pants and a few shirts in the closet was excessive. In 2003, having lost Rosetta in 1982, he moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington, to be close to his son Jon and family. Soon after arrival in Bainbridge Island, he took up residence at the Wyatt House Retirement Center where he made good friends and was well loved. During his last few days his children and grandchildren were able to visit and bid him farewell. His memory and legacy will long be treasured by all who knew him. He is survived by two sons - Joseph married to Stacy with children Deborah, Donna, Courtney, Christopher, Adam, Heidi, Gretchen, & Nathaniel, and grandchildren Austin, Ashley & Jeffrey: and Jonathan with children Matthew and Kathryn. His wife, Rosetta and one grandchild, Courtney, preceded him in death. Interment will take place at 11a.m. on Monday, July 13, 2009 at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Please sign the online guest book for the family at: www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com
        Published on: Sun June 21, 2009