The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

My big brother, Albert Lloyd French III, left this earth on November 12, 2022 after being struck by a vehicle in Madras, Oregon, 7:23 p.m. He died at the scene. Al was born October 11, 1952 to Albert and Janie French, Denver, Colorado. Al grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado before moving to Oregon in 1970. He lived in Sisters and Bend. He is survived by his sister, Rebecca French, brother-in-law, Jason Knoke, Sisters, and his nieces, Lindsey Knoke Holloway and Kristy Knoke Ciaglo of Bend.

Al studied at Linn-Benton Community College, Albany, Oregon and the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon. He was a brilliant mathematician and an electronics technician at Hewlett-Packard in Corvallis, Oregon. Al has inventions credited to him for use at Hewlett-Packard. He was a ham radio operator from youth to his older age and was a MARS Net operator as well. His passion in life was connecting military families to their loved ones all around the globe. He was a master at Morse code.

Al was a compassionate being, caring for many stray kittens, cats, dogs, and humans. He would give you the shirt off his back to make you safer and warm. He was a proud patriot and would have served his country if his health would have allowed. Al became homeless and desperate for companionship. He was catfished and frauded because he believed people were “good.” Al went to the Elks in Madras for a free meal and was in a mental health crisis. He was humiliated and told he had to leave. He was a member of the Elks for many years with his father, Albert Lloyd French, Jr. He never got to eat that night. I learned this after reading his journal about what had happened.

His family could not get the help he needed in his hour of desperation. We want to share his story as he was not just an “old, homeless guy that didn’t matter…” He did matter. He was my big, beautiful brother. We are all the family of man and must reach out our hands to others in need.

I share his story with you so you may reach out to those in need. As a community we must come together to help our brothers and sisters.

May we all find peace,

— Rebecca Morgan French