Alan Smith was born in 1944 in Berkeley, California.  He attended Berkeley schools and earned the rank of Quarter Master in Sea Scouts, which was the equivalent of an Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts. He joined the Marine Corp during the Vietnam War and flew helicopters doing medical evacuations in Vietnam.

Alan moved with his family to The Crossings in 1974 when his son Jeff was seven and his son Greg was four. He lived in The Crossings until his death on September 10, 1985 at age 40.

Alan was told he had bone cancer in March 1984. He was supposed to have only four months to live, but he lived for eighteen months, all of that time in extreme pain, but only once did he ever complain.  Regardless of pain or discomfort, Alan was always ready to volunteer his time for Boy Scouts or his sons' sporting activities, which included the Walnut Country Swim Team. Many times he wheel-chaired up to the swimming pool and timed swim team races for the kids when he was ill. Through adversity and pain he always kept a positive attitude, gave his maximum effort to do the best job he could do, as well as being helpful to others. He wanted to set a good example for his sons and others.