Alan R. MacMillan of Portsmouth, RI, died suddenly on the 13th of May 2026. He was born in Châteauvillain, France, to the late Warren and Loretta (Gill) MacMillan.

After completing a degree in archeology from Harvard, Alan joined the United States Navy,where he was introduced to the beauty of Aquidneck Island. After the Navy, he pursued his passion for knowledge by earning his Master's in education from the University of Rhode Island.

He devoted many years to teaching, first at St. Michael's and then at Barrington Middle School. With a love for learning and adventure, Alan spent his most recent years traveling the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, Zimbabwe, and, most recently, Antarctica. He was an avid sailor throughout his life and loved exploring new hobbies. He learned to fly, weld, ride a horse, build his own wooden sailboat, and when he was in his 70s, he learned to surf. He could regularly be heard singing to his dog around the house. His selections were eclectic: from his favorite religious hymns to "An ode to Woad". Alan was an active member of his church, St. Columba's Chapel. There, he took great joy in reading what his family lovingly called the "Linus speech" during Christmas service for many years.

An avid outdoorsman, Alan shared his love of nature and animals with all who knew him. He especially loved hiking and spending time outside and took particular joy in pointing out red-tailed hawks to others. He also served as an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 82 of Portsmouth throughout his sons' time in Scouting.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Jeanne Ouellette; his children, Madeleine, Ian, and Ruairi MacMillan; and the family dog, Luna, all of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He is also survived by his brother, Neal MacMillan, and sister-in-law, Joanie Bronfman, of Brookline, Massachusetts. 

Alan was preceded in death by his parents, Warren MacMillan and Loretta (Gill) MacMillan, as well as his cherished dogs, Elvis and Jackie-Chan. Alan leaves behind a legacy of love, a thirst for knowledge, and a spirit of adventure that will be cherished by all those who knew him.

Funeral services will be held in his honor at St. Columba's Chapel in Middletown, Rhode Island, on the 23rd of May 2026 at 11 am, where family and friends are invited to celebrate his life and love for those around him.