June 16, 1943 — July 26, 2025
Floating the Bighorn River with his precious golden retriever Woodrow, in pursuit of the perfect hatch, fly and cast — Alan Harris Shaw passed away on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at the age of 82. For Alan, fly fishing was more than a hobby; it was a meditation, a patient conversation with the river and a lifelong connection with nature. We find peace in knowing his last memory was doing the thing he loved most in one of the places he loved most.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, to his loving parents, Sylvia and Martin Shaw, Alan built a life defined by curiosity, kindness and deep devotion to the people and places he loved. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Alkire; his daughters, Allie Kline and Julie Shaw; his treasured grandchildren, Ellie Bohrman, Logan Kline, Lexi Kline, and Bridger Bohrman; and his sister, Lauren Shaw and brother-in-law Paul Feinberg. To each of them, and to countless friends, he leaves memories as enduring and powerful as the rivers he cherished.
After attending the University of Alabama, Alan set out to Oakland, California, to pursue his medical career. He quickly excelled to the top of his field, opening his own multi-office practice back in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, becoming a global authority on new surgical techniques and leading multiple industry associations to advance the field of foot, ankle and sports medicine and serving as president of the American Academy of Foot and Ankle surgeons. He also found countless ways to channel his expertise for good in the community whether it was convincing PepsiCo to start the annual Diet Pepsi Road Race which attracted global athletes, or creating an annual road race for Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital with the mission that “strong legs will run so that weak legs may walk.”
While he was one of the most driven and motivated professionals, his passion was always for America’s public lands and waters and the experiences they afforded everyone. He spent decades committed to their preservation and working to improve the lives of the communities closest to them. He devoted countless volunteer hours with the Sierra Club, served on the Yellowstone Association board which focuses on the preservation and education of Yellowstone National Park, was a driving force behind the Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance’s mission, chaired the Fort Smith Water and Sewer District, and was a tremendous partner to the Bighorn River Alliance and tribal communities. Everyone that knew Alan knew that, if there was an opportunity or need to serve public lands and rivers, and the people that treasured them as he did, he was at the ready.
He will be greatly missed by all those that loved him and called him friend, including many of the 25-inch browns and rainbows in the Bighorn, Missouri, Yellowstone, Gallatin, Madison and Wind Rivers. He would have wanted us all to honor his legacy and memory by modeling his perseverance, passion and commitment to causes and communities we can impact. In lieu of gifts or flowers, the family suggests a donation to one of Alan’s favorite causes: the Bighorn River Alliance, bighornriveralliance.org/support, and the Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance umowa.org/donate/
Alan, Dad, and Grandpa, may your adventures in the next life be as rich as the ones you’ve given us in this life. Roll Tide. We love you.
