Uncle Alan | Tim Driskell

Building a Home at Bare Hill Pond

Uncle Alan was an incredibly cool brother-in-law. He and my sister Jodi met while she was living out at Bare Hill Pond, and before long he moved in and began trying to fix the place up. The old building had originally been a summer camp, but Marty and I had lived there year-round for several years, and Jodi was living there now. By then it had a failing septic system, a bad roof, and plenty of other problems that came with converting a simple seasonal camp into a permanent home.

Eventually Jodi and Alan agreed to purchase the property from my parents, tear down the old camp, and replace it with an incredibly nice house. They spent a great deal of time and money painstakingly developing the plans exactly as they wanted them. What they created became far more than a house. It became a summer refuge for our entire family—every aunt, uncle, cousin and grandparent, along with visitors from far and wide.

Jody and Alan holding a framed childhood portrait during a family gathering — Jody and Alan with a treasured childhood portrait—one of many family moments preserved through the years.

Always Close to Family

Mom and Dad lived only two houses away at Peggy’s little summer camp, so it was especially nice that Jodi and Alan were always nearby whenever they needed help. Having family so close made the pond feel like a little village of our own.

Alan has always been a very fun person to be around. He likes to laugh, loves a good joke, and all the kids have always adored him. You could see it especially clearly with his daughter Jenny. She was always hanging in his lap or wrapping her arms around him while they watched television. They were simply always together.

He was the same way with all the nieces and nephews—very affectionate, very hands-on, and always ready to turn an ordinary afternoon into some kind of adventure. He always made the best breakfasts. He was never afraid to pick somebody up and toss them into the lake or tumble them out of the boat if it might get a laugh!

Alan sharing a close moment with a young family member — Alan was always happiest when he was right in the middle of whatever the kids were doing.

Alan smiling as a child opens a present at a family Christmas — Alan watching closely as another family Christmas unfolded around the children.

Alan leaning over a young girl beside a birthday cake — Never standing back from the fun—Alan leaning in for a birthday-cake moment with Jenny.

“Watch Uncle Tim”

One of my clearest Alan stories happened behind his water-ski boat in Glass Cove, a quiet cove toward the back of the pond. I was on skis on the outside of a turn, and Alan realized he could get me going far faster than I wanted. I saw him look at the kids, wink, and say, “Watch this.”

He turned the wheel left so that I swept far outside to the right, then accelerated. I was going so fast that I could barely hold on. My skis were slapping the water, and I was yelling, “Slow down! Slow down!” Naturally, Alan just went faster while all the kids laughed and yelled, “Watch Uncle Tim!”

They pulled that trick more than once, and apparently I never quite learned. One time I came out of the skis, held the rope too long, landed in front of them, and one ski came up while I was upside down and struck my foot hard enough to break a toe. Even crawling back into the boat and later getting an X-ray became part of the family comedy. That was Uncle Alan—always looking for one more laugh and one more story everyone would remember.

Children riding in Alan's boat on Bear Hill Pond — Alan’s boat was always part transportation, part playground, and part practical-joke machine. Michelle, about to get the ol' heave-ho into the lake, again!!!!

Fishing for Big Daddy

Alan also loved fishing with the kids from the dock. A large bass they called “Big Daddy” lived around the waterfront and could often be seen in the morning chasing smaller fish. Alan and the kids spent endless hours trying to catch him.

That became one of those family missions that everyone talked about. They kept watching, waiting, casting, and trying different ideas until eventually they actually caught Big Daddy. The fish was important, but the real memory is the time they spent together trying.

Alan and children enjoying time on the boat — For Alan, the best part was usually doing something together with the kids.

Campfires, Barbecues and Pig Roasts

Alan was always incredibly generous with the house and the property. Everybody was always welcome. Peg and Joe and their three boys would come and stay for a month in the summer. We had summer campfires and barbecues beside the water, and some years we had full pig roasts. Alan would get pigs from Blood Farm in Groton. Sometimes we cut them in half, but either way we cooked them through the night on a spit or grill and invited the family, the neighbors, and practically everyone around the camp.

Those years at Bare Hill Pond were among the most enjoyable years of my life. Marty and I lived there for three years. Before that it had been our family camp, the place we went during the summers, and eventually Jodi and Alan bought it from my parents and created something even more permanent.

My parents actually offered it to Marty and me first. We considered buying it, but we both were living a very different kind of life. I was still in college, wanted to travel, and did not want to take on a large debt. At the time we decided we did not want to be around that many neighbors. Looking back, however, Jodi and Alan transformed the place into something incredibly fun, and we returned many times to visit.

Jody and Alan holding a framed childhood portrait — Jodi and Alan with a treasured childhood portrait.

Alan sharing time with a young family member — Alan sharing another close, easy moment with one of the kids.

Family gathered around a kitchen island with Alan — Family gathered around the kitchen island for a meal.

Alan watching a child open a present — Marty, Jenny, Jodi and Alan enjoying Christmas through the eyes of the children.

Alan beside a child and birthday cake — Alan leaning in to share a birthday-cake moment.

Alan relaxing with family in a living room — A relaxed family evening with Jodi and Alan nearby.

Alan playing with children during a family gathering — Alan down on the floor with the kids, right where he usually wanted to be.

Alan seated with family around a kitchen island during a shared meal — A crowded kitchen, Uncle Bob and Thea and Jenny, family around the island—and Alan right in the middle of it.

Alan relaxing with family in the living room — Relaxing with family after the meal, sharing the kind of ordinary moments that become lasting memories.

Alan joining children and adults at a family gathering by a stone fireplace — Alan joining the kids beside the fireplace—never too grown up to get down on the floor and be part of the fun.

There is nothing quite like growing up around a lake—and in these photographs, Alan’s humor, generosity and love of family come through again and again.

Photographs of Uncle Alan and Family

Every photograph below is displayed in a large gallery and is clickable to open the full-size original.

Kids on Alan's boat — Kids on Alan’s boat at Bear Hill Pond.

Family boating with Alan — Another day of boating, laughter and family fun.

Swimming at Jody and Alan's house in June 1999 — A June 1999 gathering at Jody and Alan’s home.

Jenny and Alan at Christmas 1999 — Jenny and Alan at Christmas in 1999.

Family at Christmas 1999 — Christmas Day with the family.

Family visit to Martha's Vineyard in September 1999 — A family memory from Martha’s Vineyard in September 1999.

Alan and family at a gathering — Another family gathering with Uncle Alan, dad, Shannon and Michelle

Alan at a family wedding — Alan and my sister Liz; enjoying a family wedding.

Alan and family at a wedding celebration — Alans boat and a bunch of family headed out for a sunset cruise..

Alan smiling at a family wedding — Uncle Alan—smiling, joking and enjoying the day.