Columbia College | Columbia University in the City of New York
Remembering Alex

The CCT family at Columbia Homecoming 2012 (left to right): Lisa Palladino, Alex Sachare ’71 and Alexis Boncy SOA’11.
CHAR SMULLYAN
At that point he’d helmed CCT for more than 13 years and was adjusting to something of a new era as publication shifted from bimonthly to quarterly. The mission hadn’t changed, however — to connect alumni to the College and to each other — and in his quiet, thoughtful way, Alex set about guiding a new kid in the fundamentals. He taught me the importance of Class Notes, the endurance of the Core Curriculum and — more ephemeral — how to navigate this passionate and unique community I’d joined.

These memories and more come to me with a heavy heart. Alex passed away on June 12; he was 76.
Alex was the caretaker of CCT for 93 issues, almost 19 years. He and I worked together full time for more than four of those years, and then for another decade after his retirement as he continued as a contributing writer and editor.
From the beginning, I recognized Alex to be a consummate alumnus. What greater show of dedication to your alma mater than to lead its alumni magazine? But the proof went beyond the fact of his editorship, exhibited in an ongoing care for his class- mates as well as in numerous installments of this column, where he took up many topics of significance to the College and fondly shared stories of his undergraduate experience. That affinity is far from a given for a student who was on campus during the tumultuous time of Spring ’68.
Alex’s Spectator days were an oft-cited influence; he was sports editor for two years and followed his passion to a career in that same field — first as a sports writer and pro basketball editor at the Associated Press, then as the VP for editorial at the NBA. He also authored or edited more than a dozen sports books. Knowing Alex in the context that I did, the discovery of all this was a jaw-dropper. He wrote a literal encyclopedia on the Chicago Bulls, at a time when the world was on a first-name basis with Michael and Scottie. For me, it was akin to that moment when a kid realizes their parents are not just parents, but actual people with a fullness of interests and life experience.
Above all, however, Alex brimmed with love for his family: his daughter, Deborah BC’14, SPS’18, and his wife, Lori, who predeceased him in 2015. It was a well-known fact that Aruba was his “happy place,” and for many years he and his family enjoyed its sandy shores for two weeks in the spring.
Alex not only gave me a job; he put me on a path that led to this editorship and a rich, fulfilling career. I will be forever grateful. And I know there are many others — classmates, alumni, Columbia colleagues — who knew Alex and will have their own stories to share. I hope you’ll send us a letter about him.
Alex, we dedicate this issue to you.

Alexis Boncy SOA’11
Editor-in-Chief
Issue Contents
Published three times a year by Columbia College for alumni, students, faculty, parents and friends.
Columbia Alumni Center
622 W. 113th St., MC 4530, 6th Fl.
New York, NY 10025
212-851-7852
cct@columbia.edu
Columbia Alumni Center
622 W. 113th St., MC 4530, 4th Fl.
New York, NY 10025
212-851-7488
ccalumni@columbia.edu