Alan Vrooman died April 21, 2012, at RiverWoods in Exeter, N.H., after a period of declining health. He was 98.
After receiving his Ph.D. from Princeton in 1940, Alan joined the Phillips Exeter Academy faculty, where he taught for 41 years, during which time he served four years as a Navy officer during World War II. He also spent more than 20 years coaching lacrosse, including many undefeated seasons. He retired from Exeter in 1978 as chairman of the English department and Woodbridge Odlin Professor of English emeritus. He also wrote Good Writing: An Informal Manual of Style, which became a department resource.
Alan was predeceased by his first wife, Lois Cate, whom he married in 1940. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy “Tim” Vrooman; three stepdaughters; a great-nephew; two great-nieces; and a cousin.