Alan Soffer

It is with full hearts that we announce the passing of Alan Soffer on 7 Feb 2025. Alan was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend who touched the lives of so many in Media, Philadelphia, and the world.

Alan was born on 31 Jan 1937 in Philadelphia. He was the son of David and Sylvia Soffer. He graduated from Lincoln High School with a group of friends whose fabled stories live on in the memories of his children and grandchildren. He completed Temple University’s undergraduate and dental school. He met Libbie Sommers in dental school. They married in 1962 before his 2-year Army service at Fort Sam Houston and Fort Sill. Libbie enjoyed their time in the dry Southwest, surrounded by new and future lifelong friends. They returned to Overbrook with their new baby, Adam, where Dan, their 2nd child was born. They moved to Springfield (Delco) close to their new dental practice in Media. Alan was devoted to general dentistry for 35 years and managed the Barkley preventive dentistry study group where he loved connecting with colleagues. 

Alan became a grandfather and began his 2 nd career as a full-time artist by age 60. He never quite got the hang of diapers, but loved attending his grandkids’ sports events, taking them to art galleries, showing them perfect beach-sleeping technique and introducing them to new foods. 

His people skills and intuition enabled him to transition from dentistry to art. His drive and focus made him a prolific artist. He had numerous solo and group shows. Alan and Libbie forged a partnership in parenting, dentistry and dental hygiene, working in parallel in the artworld for 50 years. Even though their careers moved together, their art practice could not have been more different. Libbie continues to construct multimedia stories full of angst and emotion, while Alan’s work has been a form and process-based d’oeuvre. He began his art career in ceramics, focusing on Judaica, then transitioned to abstract painting, ultimately gaining notoriety with his energetic abstract encaustics. He did not sweat the details as long as he conveyed the movement and energy of the process. He has been known to ask onlookers as he completed a work what the painting meant to them, only to discover they had just named the work for him.

Alan and Libbie were highly involved members of Congregation Beth Israel, where they served many roles including Alan’s term as President.

Alan took time off from dentistry and artwork to play tennis. He was a long-time member at Idle Hour Tennis Club where the post-match porch-sitting and kibbitzing was almost as important as the time on the court. He played there until his mid-80s, stopping only when shoulder arthritis would not allow the junkiest of junk shots. Alan’s approach to art and tennis forged the basis for the title of his 2013 art memoirs: “I never owned a lawnmower.”

Alan was gregarious, open-minded, found joy around him, always made everyone feel present, boasted about his wife, children and grandchildren’s accomplishments, loved Philly sports teams and always knew how to make them better. He did not get a chance to see his Eagles become 2025 Super Bowl champions, but his spirit continues to cheer. Alan had friends everywhere and would contact them whenever visiting a new town. If he did not know anyone where he was going, he would meet people along the way – he talked to and listened to everyone!

Alan is survived by his wife Libbie, his children Adam and Rachel (née Eian), Dan and Gwen (née Feldman), grandchildren Maddie Soffer-Heath and Alex Heath, Ben, Joe, Nico, and Noah Soffer and caring nieces and nephews and family members who Alan loved so much and 4 grand-dogs he tolerated.

A Life Celebration will be held on 8 March 1-4pm at the Media Community Center (301 N Jackson St, Media, PA 19063); friend/family remarks will begin by 1:15pm. Please RSVP by clicking this link and providing your information: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RQQZXCS 

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations be made to the ACLU (www.aclu.org) and/or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org) in Alan Soffer's memory.

www.levinefuneral.com