Alan Richard Mowbray

Alan Richard Mowbray, 74, passed peacefully on March 20, 2026, after battling LMS cancer for two years. He is survived by his loving wife, Teresa, stepson Dariby (Sara) Hynum, grandchildren (Lucy, Luke), siblings Bob (Carlene) Mowbray, Cecilia (Carlos) Quintana, John (Amy) Mowbray, and niece and nephews Aarin, Benjamin, Jacob and David Mowbray.

The devoted son of Melvin and Mary Mowbray, Alan was born on January 13th, 1952, at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, MD. As the son of a Navy CPO, he spent his early childhood in Port Lyautey, Morocco then grew up in Jacksonville, FL. He enjoyed recounting that his middle school basketball coach was Leonard Skinnard who became famous because of the southern rock band - Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Alan graduated from Paxon High School in 1970 where he played basketball, baseball and ran track & field. Over the next many years, he developed a passion for running and participated in numerous 15K races and several marathons.

In 1975, Alan earned a master’s degree in philosophy and political science at FSU – and for the next 50+ years was a loyal Seminole fan. Despite his philosophy background, his first love was literature. During the next five decades, he authored and published eleven novels and a collection of short stories - first The Diary of a Dissident – while in his twenties, and the last - Amerifree – during his stage 4 LMS cancer battle. When asked about his lack of recognition as a writer, he would quote Samuel Beckett: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”

His liberal arts background led him to teaching, with the hope that he made a positive impact on his students over a 32-year career.

He was an ardent defender of educators. His many editorials to The Florida Times Union kept the newspaper’s editors busy, consistently extolling legislators to deliver meaningful support for educators and students, beyond lip service. His belief in the ability of public education to level the playing field for students grew from his powerful sense of justice having come of age as a witness to the Civil Rights movement.

When Alan retired early from the Duval County Schools to care for his aging parents, he did so selflessly and with great love and admiration for his parents and his family. Alan always chose to see the potential in another person. He was an unpretentious champion and a loving uncle, brother, stepdad, and husband.

A service to celebrate Alan’s life will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 11:00, at Palms Presbyterian Church, 3410 S Third St., Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250. There will be a reception immediately following the service in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, the Mowbray family asks that you consider a  donation to K9s for Warriors in Alan's name.