Alfred Thomas Wallace

Alfred Thomas Wallace, 89, passed away peacefully on May 19, 2025. Al arrived in Moscow, Idaho in 1967, put down roots and never left.

Al was a father, grandfather and great grandfather. He leaves behind a tremendous legacy in the love of his life and spouse of 45 years, Jeanne Wallace; his children Jim Wallace and his wife, Rhonda (Troy, ID), and Ellen Wallace and her husband, Mitch Kreindler (Austin, TX); five grandchildren: Jayme Gehrlein and her husband Kyle (Troy, ID), Lindsey Wallace and her husband Nolan Wirth (Quincy, WA), Jesse Wallace (Post Falls, ID), Erin Kreindler (New York, NY), and Jordan Kreindler (Houston, TX); and four great-grandchildren :Grayson Gehrlein (3 years), Logan Gehrlein (10 months), Raelyn Gehrlein (10 months), and Avery Wirth (20 months).

Born in Cranford, New Jersey on November 26,1935, Al had a difficult childhood and was emancipated from his parents while still a teenager. Against all odds, Al found success through self-reliance and a tough-as-nails persona. He ultimately found his calling in clean water and academia.

Al received his B.S. in Sanitary Engineering from Rutgers University in 1959, and an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1960 and 1965. He was registered as a Professional Engineer in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon and a Diplomate in the American Academy of Environmental Engineers.

Upon receiving his Masters degree, Al joined the American Oil Co., designing treatment facilities for refinery and petrochemical wastes. After obtaining his Ph.D., he was hired by Clemson University as an assistant professor in Environmental Systems Engineering. He joined the faculty of the University of Idaho in 1967, as an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, becoming a tenured Professor in 1971. For ten years, he served as co-director of short school program for water and sewage plant operators.

Al loved teaching, mentoring, consulting and problem solving. He spent countless hours preparing to teach, working to solve engineering problems and keeping on top of technological developments in his field. Most of all, he loved teaching. Nothing made him happier than to help an eager, motivated and hard-working individual master complex engineering concepts. But nothing made him angrier than a dog-ate-my-homework kinda student, who failed to work hard and showed up in his office the week before finals. As a result, Al had a reputation as a very difficult instructor and was known as the “Graduation Goalie,” a title he relished.

Al was also a frequent lecturer at conferences across the United States, often at events sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency. He was a terrific teacher because he rolled up his sleeves and did actual engineering work. He consulted on hundreds of wastewater and clean water projects and provided litigation support as an engineering expert. Al helped many municipalities meet clean water standards in a cost-effective manner that overcame expensive solutions demanded by government regulators.

Until the end, Al possessed a sharp intellect, maintained a deep sense of integrity and always spoke directly. With Al, you always knew where you stood. He loved drinking beer (ambers were his favorite) and playing pool and handball with his students, and especially his grad students, often bragging about his ability to best younger players in handball into his 60s. He also loved fishing, especially along the Snake and Clearwater Rivers and near the Dworshak Reservoir, solo navigating his rickety aluminum boat until he could no longer do so.

Al was an avid reader, but only of the classics and only well-worn paperbacks. His favorite author was Charles Dickens, and he read every Dickens novel many times. Al appreciated fine food and also read cookbooks to hone his outstanding cooking skills. He cooked entirely from memory, planning meals to fit the occasion. With Jeanne, an outstanding baker, they produced exotic, phenomenal meals. Their pantry reflected a vast diversity of spices, grains and other ingredients from around the world.

Al and Jeanne were regulars at One World Café and the Moscow Alehouse. Al was such a fixture at the Alehouse, that an artist friend painted a picture of the restaurant, labeling it the “Al House.” Al was also an avid gardener and spent hours tending daily to his massive backyard garden on East Eight Street, which he created from scratch over many years.

Al’s idyllic existence turned sharply last June when he was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease. In accordance with his wishes, Al will be cremated and his remains scattered over the Snake River in a private family ceremony later this summer. Arrangements have been entrusted to Short’s Funeral Chapel of Moscow and condolences may be left at www.shortsfuneralchapel.com.

The family would be touched by donations made in Al’s memory to the Al Wallace Environmental Engineering Assistantship at the University of Idaho College of Engineering. The Wallace Scholars Endowment was set up by some of Al’s former students and J-U-B Engineers, Inc. to honor Al’s four-decade teaching legacy, the wealth of knowledge and real-world experience he brought into the classroom and his high standards of achievement. Donations can be made through the donation link down at the bottom.

Al Wallace Environmental Engineering Assistantship-Endowment
Web: https://giving.uidaho.edu/campaigns/al-wallace-environmental-engineering-assistantship-endowment-3