ITHACA – Alan Lee Nemcek, né Lassen, passed away at the age of 73 on Monday, April 28, 2025, at his home in Ithaca, New York. He was born in Binghamton on July 4, 1951, the son of Madeline (Vroman) Nemcek and Howard Lassen Jr. Alan was later adopted by his step-father Richard Nemcek.
Alan was predeceased by his mother, Madeline Nemcek, his brother, Thomas Nemcek, his brother-in-law Butch Clegg, and his cousin Sharan Vroman-Inman.
Alan is survived by his father, Richard Nemcek of Conklin, N.Y., a daughter, Krista Cotich and her husband, Richard, of Granville, N.Y., a daughter Gretta Hochsprung and her husband, Peter, of Queensbury, N.Y., his sister, Joyce Clegg of Center Lisle, his sister-in-law Peggy Nemcek and many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends.
He derived great joy from his “incredibly wonderful” grandchildren Jackson, Carter and Griffin Stanclift, Keira and Landon Cotich, and Gavin and Hayden Hochsprung.
Alan was a 1969 graduate of Windsor High School and a 1973 graduate of SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music. He also held two master’s degrees.
He was employed as a music teacher for the Whitehall Central School District from 1973 until 1979, and then taught music in Newark, New York.
He was the owner and operator of Oriental Treasures and Chair and a Half (later known as Decorum Too) on the Ithaca Commons, in the DeWitt Mall and the Triphammer Mall in Ithaca, New York, where he has lived for the last 42 years. He sold oriental rugs to many of the citizens of Ithaca and was a well known and beloved member of the downtown Ithaca business community.
He always had a smile on his face and was eternally cheerful. He loved the city of Ithaca.
Despite his career change, Alan never lost his passion for music. He continued to conduct church choirs and performed in community theater musical productions in and around Ithaca during his spare time. He relished the fact that his grandchildren were all very involved in chorus, band, a capella choirs and musical theater.
His other passion was traveling. He loved his trips to Turkey, where he purchased oriental rugs for his store. He loved his many adventures with his sister, Joyce. But perhaps his favorite was the annual camping trip over his July 4 birthday to Lewey Lake in the Adirondacks with his grandchildren.
Alan will be honored at a Celebration of Life at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Alan’s name to the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca.
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