The Reverend Alexander “Scotty” Meek—beloved parish minister and devoted institutionalist, who made an influential career of interim ministry in his later years—died on 24 September 2018, aged 89.

Alexander Meek, Jr. was born on 10 June 1929 in Andover, Massachusetts, to Rolina and Alexander Meek, Sr. He was graduated from Tufts University (MA) in 1956 with an A.B. in Sociology and earned his S.T.B. from Tufts’ Crane Theological School in 1959.

Mr. Meek was ordained on 14 June 1959 at the First Universalist Church in Stafford, CT, where he served as minister (1957–59). Parish settlements followed at the First Universalist Church of Orange, MA (1960– 63), the UU Church of Greater Lynn, MA (1964–73), and the First UU Church of Rochester, MN (1973–83). He then served as the UUA’s Pacific Southwest District Minister (1983–87) and on departure was named the district’s minister emeritus.

Drawn back to the parish, Scotty embarked on a series of significant interim ministries: in Tucson, AZ; Wausau, WI; Fort Worth, TX; Kansas City, MO; and Brooklyn, NY. After a two-year “retirement” break, he resumed his interim work in Houston, TX, in Chandler and Green Valley, AZ, and finally in Little Rock, AR. The Rev’d Mr. Meek was named to emeritus status by two of his interim congregations: Green Valley in 2000 and Little Rock in 2004.

Scotty’s work for the wider UU movement was deep and broad—most significantly chairing the UUA Ministerial Fellowship Committee, plus long service as trustee and president for the Ferry Beach Park Association. Scotty was particularly proud, as late as 2014, of having attended his 53rd consecutive UU General Assembly, going back to 1962.

At his death Scotty was survived by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy, two children (Stevan and Sheralyn), and four grandchildren (Jordan, Mason, Sasha and Zoe). Memorial donations are encouraged to the Ferry Beach Park Association, Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Chandler, AZ, the UUA, or to a charity of one’s own choice.