Alex Plum

Alex Plum
December 18, 1963 – August 24, 2024

Alex Plum was born on December 18, 1963, in Bremerton, Washington, to L. Richard and Shirley Plum. When Alex was about six months old, the family moved to Guam due to his father’s work. They later returned to the Bremerton area, where Alex began his education. He graduated from Olympic High School in 1982 and went on to attend the University of Puget Sound on a scholarship. In 1990, he earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Western States Chiropractic College and dedicated his career to serving patients in the Puget Sound area ever since. Over the years, he took great pride in treating entire families and cherished the long-lasting relationships he built with his patients.

In 1992, Alex married Noreen after six years of dating, and together they raised two wonderful sons, Franz and Maxxwell, who were the pride and joy of their lives. Alex was a devoted father, attending all of his sons’ activities, from t-ball and basketball to track, band, and soccer. With an impressive memory and a wide breadth of knowledge, he was always ready to help them with their schoolwork. He was particularly proud of having earned the award for the most college credits at his 10-year high school reunion. The family shared many happy vacations, including annual trips to Cannon Beach when the boys were young, where they explored tide pools, built sandcastles, and made s'mores. As the boys grew older, the family ventured further, with their most recent adventure being a memorable trip to Switzerland in 2024.

Alex’s love for soccer began in his youth and remained a constant throughout his life. He played the game, avidly watched World Cup matches, and had the chance to attend one during the U.S. World Cup at Stanford in 1994. He shared his passion for the sport with sons Franz and Max, both of whom played throughout their youth, with Alex faithfully attending every game and occasionally coaching. When his sons went off to college, Alex took up refereeing, both to stay connected to the sport he loved and to address the shortage of referees. He traveled across the Puget Sound area officiating games and often joked about his knack for avoiding rainy matches, believing he had some control over the weather. Always willing to help, he eagerly filled in when games needed coverage, often quipping that it was a convenient way to avoid yard work—though the truth was he genuinely enjoyed it. Alex also took pleasure in mentoring younger referees and guiding them on the field.

Throughout his life, Alex formed deep connections with his community, his chiropractic patients, and his fellow referees. Known for his quick wit and attention to detail, many friends and family recall being playfully corrected for grammatical or spelling errors via text message. On his 30th anniversary trip to Paris, he couldn't resist pointing out a typo in a Seine River cruise brochure. Ever thoughtful, Alex had a habit of sending birthday or holiday texts precisely at 12:01 a.m. to be the first to celebrate. Over his 32 years of marriage, he kept a running tally of how many times Noreen had beaten him at Trivial Pursuit—likely fewer than ten! His sharp wit and intelligence endeared him to many, even when his jokes occasionally flew over their heads.

Alex was proceeded in death by his mother Shirley. Alex is survived by his father, L. Richard Plum, and stepmother Barb Westall; his beloved wife, Noreen; and his sons, Franz and Max. He is also survived by his sister, Lisa, and his step-siblings, Pamela, Steve, and Jim. On Noreen's side of the family, Alex is held close by Mike and Linda Murnane, Maureen Nixon and Bela Kovacs, Deirdre and Tom Crebs, and Kathy and Gary Simpson, along with many cherished nieces and nephews.

Alex's family, friends, and all who knew him will miss him deeply. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.