There were few things more important to Al Lamfrom than his business, A&L Motors in Monroeville.

Among them was his late wife, Shirley, and his family.

"Family was so important to him. If he was down to his last $2, he'd do without to make sure somebody else was OK. He was just that kind of man," said his daughter, Susan Lamfrom Katz of Fox Chapel. "He was my white knight. He was a wonderful person. He had a great sense of humor and a great outlook on life."

Alan N. Lamfrom of Fox Chapel, formerly of Highland Park, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 85.

Born on Nov. 28, 1926, in Crafton, Mr. Lamfrom was raised in Highland Park. He met his wife on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J., after returning from a tour in the Air Force. They were married in 1951. Shirley Lamfrom died in 2001.

When Mr. Lamfrom was about 20, he and his father bought a car, fixed it up, sold it and used the proceeds to buy another car to do the same, Katz said.

In 1948, Mr. Lamfrom had enough cars to set up a small used-car lot on property across from a trolley stop in East Liberty, Katz said.

"He knew people coming off the trolley would eventually want a car," she said. "He picked a good spot."

A&L Motors grew slowly. With each sale, Mr. Lamfrom would take the proceeds and buy more cars for his inventory.

"He did it the hard way," Katz said. "He lived the American dream."

In the early 1960s, Mr. Lamfrom bought property in what was then a rural area in Monroeville, where the dealership blossomed with car brands like Triumph and Jaguar.

"For many, many years, he was the exclusive Jaguar dealer in Pittsburgh," said Linda Drago, president of the Jaguar Club of Pittsburgh. "He was very generous to the club. He supported the club activities and sponsored events."

The dealership, which also sells BMWs and, more recently, Land Rovers, is among the largest in the region. Mr. Lamfrom's son, Steven Lamfrom of Monroeville, and grandson, Brian Lamfrom of Penn Hills, operate the business.

"Dad was the salt of the earth. He didn't sweat the small things and always saw the best in people. He lived his life that way," Katz said. "I will miss him terribly."

In addition to his daughter, son and grandson, Mr. Lamfrom is survived by three grandchildren, Chad Lamfrom, Ashley Lamfrom and Danielle Katz, and two great-grandchildren, Averi and Caden Alan Lamfrom.

Mr. Lamfrom was buried on Monday in Shaare Torah Cemetery in Carrick, after a funeral in Ralph Schugar Chapel in Shadyside.

Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Greater Pittsburgh Chapter, 1100 Liberty Ave., Suite E-201, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)