Albert Paul Carlson, 75, of Carrboro died Monday, December 10, 2012 at the Hospice at the Meadowlands in Hillsborough after a long illness. He was born February 28, 1937 on his family’s farm outside of Janesville, Wisconsin.

Al was a library director and computer programmer who loved coaching youth sports and playing and coaching chess, bridge, and many other games. He lived in North Carolina for over 40 years, but grew up in Wisconsin and also went to school and worked in Kentucky, Michigan, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Virginia.

He was predeceased by his parents, Rudolph and Edna Carlson and his sister Ruby Baldock, all of Janesville, WI. Al is survived by his wife, Christine Neuok Carlson of Carrboro; son Craig Carlson and wife Margaret Barrett of Durham; son John Carlson and wife Caitlin Fenhagen of Chapel Hill; grandchildren Evan Carlson, Albert Carlson, and Lucy Carlson; sisters Evelyn Garrett of Somerset, KY and Carol Taylor of San Antonio, TX; and brother Melvin Carlson of Lancaster, WI as well as a host of caring cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Al loved watching his grandchildren grow and deeply valued his connections with his family and extended family – helping to organize several “cousin” family reunions over the years. For many years he was a fixture in Carrboro Youth baseball and basketball and especially enjoyed his players and fellow coaches. Al was always a progressive thinker and talker, a member of his college debate team at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and later active in the Ethical Humanist Society and Toastmasters. He was an avid chess player who played in many tournaments (and won a few) and later enjoyed coaching middle school chess teams. He especially enjoyed his many friends at Carolina Spring Senior Apartments over the past several years of his life.

The family greatly appreciates the many health providers who cared for Al over the years and particularly over the past several months. A celebration of his life will be held January 5 at 2:00 at Carolina Spring in Carrboro. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle at PO Box 3132 Chapel Hill, NC 27515 and Duke HomeCare & Hospice at https://www.gifts.duke.edu/daa.