Alan Christopher Kairo ... enjoyed hunting, fishing

LEBANON, Maine - Alan Christopher Kairo, 71, also known as Uumpy, Big Papa or KAIRO!; a beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and friend died on April 24, 2022, at his home in Lebanon after a courageous 10-year battle with cancer.

There is no other way to fight cancer except with courage. He was with his wife and two daughters, whom if you asked him, he wanted to kill most of the time. Or so he said.

Alan was born to Anna and Peter Kairo in Chelsea and Revere, Mass., on July 13, 1950, which for some reason granted him two birth certificates.

He graduated from Chelsea High School in 1968. One of his core concentrations, being that he had a smart mouth, was detention, often, in those four years.

He went on to enlist in the Marines where he served with the 21^st Recon Division in the Vietnam conflict. He then spent time in Quantico before going over to Okinawa. He was honorably discharged in 1970 to the Marine Reserves until his separation in 1974. He received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with 1*, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

Alan married Patricia Perullo of Revere in 1972. She was a city girl, who worked in Boston. Patty was his pen pal while he was stationed in Vietnam.

In 1977 he moved her and their girls to Maine, to a tiny four room house on a back country road in what must have seemed to the city girl like nowhere. Over the next 30 years a couple of additions were added so they always had room in their house. Room for kids, for grandkids, friends of kids, cherished neighbors and friends, and his mother in law. There was always something brewing at the Kairo compound.

He was employed by PepsiCo for 35 years. We can tell them now, he was a fan of a good, cold Coca Cola.

Alan had a good sense of humor and liked to laugh. He was usually loud, and armed with a tease, wisecrack, sometimes an inappropriate one. If you were not on the receiving end....he may have tolerated you, but not have really liked you. Most conversations were peppered with the noun, the verb, the adjective and exclamation point F Bomb.

Alan found joy in many things in this world. He liked hunting and fishing. He could be found at the ball field watching the grandsons play, often umpiring games. He was a fan of the New England Sports Teams, particularly the Boston Bruins and the UNH Wildcats Hockey.

He and Patty enjoyed many trips together - Disney, Aruba, the land and sea trip to Alaska and a 3-week Mediterranean cruise.

He was always up for a road trip, as long as he got fed. He had a blast on the Bailey Island cruise through Casco Bay. He traveled extensively going with Patty to quilt shops, to King Arthur Flour and he loved the Old Port in Portland. His favorite destination there was Jay's Oyster Bar where he could be found filling up on shellfish and lobster bisque. He introduced his kids, grandkids and many friends to this little eatery on the water.

Above all he cherished time with family and loved them first. His bark for the most part was for show. Underneath you'd be hard-pressed to find another guy that was the protector of his family the way Alan was.

He loved family parties, the holidays with the table laden with some of his favorite foods like smoked and fresh kielbasa with horseradish, pizza gaina, and pizza dolti. Trading hosting duties he and Patty spent many hours with great friends playing dice.

From his first dachshund Gino to his last Daisy Lou and many in between...they were his faithful companions. You could often find him reclined in his chair covered in a blanket of dachshunds.

Alan was predeceased by both sets of grandparents, his very special grandmother Big Bubshi, his parents, his brother Peter and his in-laws Gene and Nellie Perullo. He was also predeceased by Cucci (Aunt Betty) and Cousin Richie, and son in law Joseph Garland.

He is survived by the love of his life, Patricia with whom he shared nearly 50 years of marriage. His daughter and son in law Amy and Joey Patterson; his daughter and son in law Lori Kairo and Larry McClelland; grandchildren Nicholas (Kelsey) Garland, Zachary Kairo-Conley, Alexandra Garland, Jenna Kairo-Conley, Patrick Garland and Amy Lizotte; and Damien Kairo. Great grand-children Evelyn Caligiure and Gabriel Kairo. Also survived by his brother and sister in law Gregory (Shirley) Kairo and his sister and brother in law Louise (George) Lee. He leaves behind his lifelong special friends Mike Houston, Al Mazin and Jim Beebe.