Lofton Holdsworth Alley

Lofton Holdsworth Alley “Jim”, 68, of Tampa, FL, passed away on Saturday, August 26, 2023 from complications of dementia. 

Jim was the second of four children born on February 19, 1955 to Mary Janet Campbell Alley and Lofton H. Alley in Prince George County, VA. After Jim graduated from Saint Andrews High School in 1973 he went to live in a commune, had a career in construction and carpentry before returning to college and graduating from the University of Virginia in 2000 with a Bachelors in Linguistics. While working full time as an English teacher at NIS international school in Chiang Mai, Thailand, he received his Master degree in Applied Linguistics. From there, he and his family moved to China for several years as he worked at various universities, moving several times. He then returned to the US where he settled down in Tampa, working until his retirement at the University of South Florida (?). 

As with his motto, "variety is the spice of life", Jim's life was well spiced and full of travel, joy, and hard work. He was never afraid of a challenge, and it showed in his decision to change careers in the middle of his life- from molding boards to molding minds. He was a wonderful storyteller and fascinated with linguistics, chess, and doing things the right, most efficient way possible. He showed care through action and words, and was devoted to his work and students for 20+ years. He crafted his curriculum just as meticulously as he used to restore old buildings, and taught his children to value critical thinking, mindfulness and compassion. He loved being in nature and hiking, spending time at his family’s mountain house as often as he was able to. 

He is survived by his wife Elisabeth, daughters Madonna, Anna and Belle, sons Pieter and Donovan, his brothers Charles and Robert, sister Marguerite, and 10 grandchildren Cecilia, Corinna, Anson, Sophia, Erastus, Virginia, Harper, Cecilia, Hudson and Alton and 2 great grandchildren, Gaius and Emma Rose. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Nicholas Holdsworth Alley, and grandchildren Lazarus and Helena Alley. 

All of whose lives he touched with his wry smiles and generous spirit. 

"That best portion of a good man's life; His little, nameless, unremembered, acts of kindness and love.”- William Wordsworth