Alan B. Handler ’53

Alan was born in Newark, N.J., and came to Princeton after graduating from Newark Academy. He majored in the School of Public and International Affairs and wrote his thesis on “Ideological Aspects of the Soviet-Yugoslav Conflict.” He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1956 and formed a partnership with his father and brother as Handler and Handler in Newark, N.J.

In 1960, Alan joined the office of the attorney general of the State of New Jersey and in 1967 was appointed by the governor of New Jersey as a judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey. Over the course of his career as a judge, he wrote close to 500 opinions, including dissents and concurrences. As an appellate court justice, in 1974 he wrote the majority opinion giving girls the right to play Little League baseball in the state of New Jersey, and in 1975 he wrote the opinion in what is believed to be the first case in the nation to address the right of transsexual people to marry, divorce, and claim spousal support. In retirement, Alan enjoyed spending time at his sheep farm in Hunterdon County with his family and a wide assortment of animals.

Alan died May 23, 2024. He was predeceased by his wife, Rose; and is survived by his three daughters and two stepchildren.