TAPS: Passing of LCDR (Ret) Alden Sprague on 5 October at Age 94

Obituary: https://www.jacobsenfuneral.com/obituaries/alden-sprague/#!/Obituary

Alden “Al” Sprague died peacefully on October 5, 2025, at the age of 94. Al was one of NIP New York Chapter’s proudest and most dedicated members of the Navy, NRID 3-1 and NIP.  He could always be expected at every one of the chapter’s functions and was the proud custodian of their copy of VADM Milton Miles' "What the Hell" pennant until it was turned over to the custody of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

Al was born in Waterville Maine on 30 July 1931 to Margaret Davis Sprague following the sudden passing of his father Alden Sprague. “Sonny,” as Alden was then called, spent his early childhood in Monson, Maine living with his grandparents and helping with the various family endeavors including maple sugaring, balsam fir collection for the war effort and other activities that kept him busy outdoors. Following the marriage of his mother to Roderick Farnham he attended Millinocket, Maine schools. He attended Colby College for a year before transferring to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to pursue a mechanical engineering degree. He served four years on active duty in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the USS Weeden (DE-797), a destroyer based out of Santa Barbara, California. It was there he met his wife, Beverly. He remained active in the U.S. Naval Reserve Intelligence Division and retired as lieutenant commander. After his discharge from active duty, he worked as an engineer for Scientific Design in New York City for several years then spent most of his career with M.D. Pneumatics as Eastern Regional Manager and later Vice President. 

Al remained active in his retirement with a variety of organizations. He served as a Deacon and Elder at Bethany Presbyterian Church and could always be counted on to help deliver meals to shut-ins on Thanksgiving and Christmas. He re-visited his banjo playing skills and was a member of the Long Island Banjo Society, playing weekly at the VFW hall in Amityville for many years as well as at special events. He was a member of the Long Island Engineers Society. 

Al took advantage of every opportunity to return to Maine to visit family and enjoy time at the cottage on Monson Pond. He also made it a priority to return to the family’s Elliottsville, Maine property in late spring to help with the Honeymoon Maple Works maple sugaring operations and the fall woodcutting activities. 

He is survived by his wife, Beverly Sprague of Huntington Station; his daughters Susan Landon and her husband Jeff of Tewksbury, Massachusetts; Karen Wong and her husband Edward of Huntington Station, and Pamela Sprague and her fiancée Tom Baumann of Valley Stream; brother R. Ewen Farnham and his wife Anne of Scarborough, ME; sisters Jane Rabeni and her husband Charles of Columbia, Missouri, and Barbara Briggs of Carrabassett Valley, Maine; his grandchildren Bryan and Linnea Wong; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family members. 

A Celebration of Life was held on October 13, 2025 at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 425 Maplewood Road, Huntington Station. There will also be a celebration of life in the summer 2026 at the family compound on Monson Pond. Gifts in Alden’s memory may be made to the Monson Historical Society, Inc., 6 Tenney Hill Rd, Monson, Maine 04464.