This sucks. This guy would always tell it like it is. A good friend who you could always count on. Loved hosting him at my home so he could tell me what I was doing wrong with all my games. Half joking. He was a huge part of pinball in NYC and made my 7 years in NYC much funner. I was shocked to hear such terrible news. IT was just a few days ago when he was placing fun games at great locations. I have purchased, traded and enjoyed so many of his games. He was the best operator in NYC. Thanks Eddie for always taking lots of photos so that these good times were not forgotten.

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He was really bummed he couldn’t make expo this year, and made me promise to seek you out on his behalf!!!

❤️

A very nice man...we had lots of fun at the shows...jokes, stories, general chaos!! Will miss you Al! Todd N. Tuckey

This was what Al sent me in a text when we were talking about my cancer treatments and when he found out about his MS diagnosis. "Appreciate every day you are alive. We all live a speck of time, enjoy your speck." This is the way the man lived every day! Just wanted to share he was really a great person still hard to believe I won't see him at any pinball shows this year!

Al's passion for pinball and this community could not be understated. One can only begin to wonder how many people on this planet were able to experience the joy of pinball because of Al. I know I wouldn't be where I am today without @pinaholic. I love all the pictures and stories in this thread. You could always tell that nothing made him happier than seeing other people enjoy pinball and he always had such a big smile on when he was watching other people play.
RIP Al

I did not know the man but hearing the story that he went into the Stern engineering room and told them they suck to their face is just amazing!! RIP

I never met him, but I thought I would eventually. It’s the memories you leave behind that are your legacy. He looks like he lived that a bit…

Some more fun Al photos….and my dad after purchasing one of his Pinball Rasta shirts at NYCPC to bring home to Florida.

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I am so saddened to hear that he passed. The pinball world will miss you Al.

He was the only guy that ever offered me a popsicle at a pinball show.

i hope you accepted.

He probably did. But that wasn't a popsicle.

(Al would have loved that joke.)

RIP Al. You will be missed.

Al was my Friend and Brother not sure what to say. I took many photos during our exploits and these were his favorites. Three pics I will describe. The pic With Gary Stern was taken when I took AL to The pinball expo for his first time. Al spoke to Gary many times over the years but had never met him in person.While in a room Gary showed up and Al wanted me to take a pic of the 2 of them. Al asked me to ask Gary to take a pic. I was surprised because I never knew Al not to be forward to talk to someone. I said AL what if we got a pic of him choking you, you know you drive him crazy on the phone ? Al thought it was a great Idea (we have the same sense of humor.) I approached Gary (Never met or spoke to him before) "Mr Stern can I take a pic of you with my friend Al Cihak You have spoken to him many times on the phone." He said sure then I asked one more thing can you be choking him? He looked at me and Al like I had 3 heads but Al looked at him with a huge smile nodding as yes, please do it. Gary looked at us dumbfounded and did it. Al loved the pic always said it was one of his top pics and memorable times. The Pic with AL in an office was taken during the Stern tour of the same Trip. Al kept bitching about if I remember right something with ACDC. I said to him hey AL thats the Tech shop why dont you go in and complain? He walked in and started complaining I was cracking up so hard I quickly took the pic before I thought we would be tossed out. The final pic was Als' Number 1. It is the pic that looks like the Little Rascals. It was taken at Allentown and on that trip all things aligned as many NYC pinheads showed up. But not just pinheads. They were basically the founders of the rebirth of the NYC pinball scene. Jon Ehrlich, Levi Neiman, Chris Medina my Wife Dahlia Rowan and Al all happened to be together. I thought it would make a great pic. After I showed it to Al he said we should have had someone take it so you could have been in the pic! That was Al and of all the pics he said this was the best. He called it the Pinball Mafia.

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Some great pics from Jack At JJP, including the infamous Willy wonka NDA game. Al signs NDA, plays wonka, and immediately calls everybody he knows to violate the NDA and tell them how awesome it is.

He was very excited that day!

I think I mentioned before Al LOVES pizza, and loved bringing some of his favorite pies to far flung locales like New Jersey to share with everybody over at Classic Pinball.

A story about that mini - he got into a bad habit of using it move pinball machines, despite going through two transmissions. Finally, he straps the head of a CFTBL on the roof of the mini and drives the game back home from upstate.

When he got home, the translite was missing from the game. And that’s before they were easy to get!! A kind stranger on RGP helped him out with that.

He finally got a van after the translite incident. The glass was still there, just not the translite!!

Great picture of Al, Jack, and Kevin at Classic Pinball in Clifton, NJ

Awesome pic of eddie, jack, and Al with an early WOZ, parts unknown. Maybe also in Clifton? I believe al had the first test WOZ on location anywhere.

Nice pic of jack and Al at sunshine laundromat in Brooklyn (where Brooklyn Jack is from!!!)

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Eddie I know you guys were really close, I'm so sorry for you man. Al was the best.

So many great pictures of this guy with others. It’s impressive.

I like that he broke NDA in five seconds with Levi.

Very sad to see this gentleman go. This means, to me. We must all pick up in his absence.

I will I promise. Friendliness, good will and that smile you left us!

Godspeed good sir.

Heres Al at Chicago expo 2018. Me, my Two sons,Al, and Harry Reimer all shared a hotel room, me and Harry would go down to starbucks every morning, one morning Al came down from the room to the main reception area, we were waiting for him so we could all go to breakfast. All of a sudden i notice Al sitting there with people around him and hes telling stories to them, i started joking with Harry, and we came with when “Uncle Al talks, people listen” i had to take a photo because it really was amazing how it didnt matter where he was or who you were.

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I never met Al but but remember seeing him at all the Allentown and York shows. Always had a a friendly smile for people. RIP.

My condolences to family and friends

After that he was Uncle Al..... he seemed to enjoy the name.

That has to be DiFara's he loved that place.

He did love DiFara's. Talked about it daily. He also loved the spicy chicken sandwich from Commodore, just down the street from Jackbar, where he operated a Gilligan's Island. But one of his all time favorites was the pork sandwich from Porchetta (now closed) in the e. village. He must've eaten 3 of those a week. He operated pinball in so many food spots, pizza shops, ice cream parlors, etc.. and he would make it a point to get something every time he went to service them. I don't know how he didn't weight 300lbs.

Jon, totally if you knew Al.. you knew he love DiFaras..LOL

Very sorry to hear the news. I always enjoyed seeing and talking to Al at the Chicago and Texas shows. Despite the trouble Al had getting around, he was always too excited to sit still. He'd often circle the room, stopping to talk to anyone who'd listen, tilting his head and flashing that mischevious smile.

Al was the nicest guy I ever met in pinball.

Well said, Eddie. I'm sorry for your loss, I know you were so close with him. Thank you again for introducing me to him, he certainly had a big impact on me that I will hold forever.

If you didn't know Al, you probably knew he loved DiFaras.

If you were within 15 feet of him you probably knew it.

I've had slices from there many times thanks to him but it was always a couple hours old...we should all make a trip there and get a few fresh pies.

I had to look.

https://www.difarapizzany.com/

I’m in on the pizza, for sure. (Someday!)

This is very sad to hear about his sudden passing.

Al was such a character. I didn’t know him well at all, but I recall about 10-12 years ago when I was more active in the NYC pinball scene and playing league and attending events, he was always everywhere. Of course I’d see him and say hi annually at Allentown. Pretty sure I saw him this past May.

Many years ago I was speaking with him about buying a used BBH. I had two hour plus long phone conversations with him that week. Or I should say, on two occasions I listened to Al talk to me on the phone for over an hour. Mesmerizing. I didn’t have cause to say much of anything and I didn’t need to.

Wish I’d known him better. An NYC pinball legend.

Al’s Van….few dared to enter!

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And another shot of Al and the classic pinball crew.

Al shared a space with me in manhattan for a while but he outgrew it. He found a much better situation in New Jersey at Classic Pinball, where he had a ton of space and also a great support network for help with moving and fixing up games. He loved hanging out at Classic.

I did too! Thanks Kevin…it was always great to roll through, play some pinball, and have some pizza/beer.

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Did this one get posted, classic pinball Saturdays, they were the BEST!

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TPF 2018 AL,Kevin and Dennis enjoying the free drinks. Me and Al took the same flight from JFK, he loved to use the handicap status to get us some upgraded seats on Delta, which then automatically upgraded us to free drinks.

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One of my favorite Al moments was when we hanging out in the smoking section outside the Westin. Al took a spill and immediately I'm trying to help him up.
He swatted me with his cane, not softly either, and screamed "GET THE FUCK OFF ME GRYSZZ! IM FINE"
The man did NOT want your help. Ever.
Still cracks me up.

Only shows I attended was local (Rochester), so never meet Al, but I'm liking these post.
Sounds like he past fairly unexpectedly. How long had he been vending?
Keep the pics coming. Enjoying the photos. "R.I.P"

RIP AL
Never met him
but kinda got to know him a bit
back in the RGP days.

Time flys! Familiar faces to every pinball show, I attended, for 12 years. Nice picture Kev

Great to see these pictures! Thank you.
Al made an impression on me the last time I talked to him. Super cool guy. Never saw him miss a Pinfest over the 12 years or so I attended. Very sorry to see such him pass. He will be missed greatly. I wish I took more pictures over the years at Pinfest.

His passing was unexpected for sure

I’m just absolutely stunned. I saw at a few weeks ago. He picked up all of my leftover coils and parts from when I was really involved. We shot the breeze on the street like any other day. We met up so many times…everywhere from TPF to Pinfest. I remember when we went to Chicago, a few of us went out to the Pinballife party and Al rode with us. An experience like no other.

I’d be the guy always trying to snatch that fat stack over there. $is that a stack of bills? Like I said. They would all be like where did that go?

I try not to smile. No idea.

Looks like great fun.

al always had cash. hanging out of his pockets, in the van, whether on the floor, the seat, or flying out the window. i always used to say, easiest way to become rich, just follow 2 min behind al all day, every day.

there will always be that last and final game of pinball, i hope it was a good one.

Some more Al memories…thanks to the jack, Kevin, and others for these great pics

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I appreciate reading these stories of friendship. I'm sorry for everyone that is grieving having lost a friend. It sucks.
-mof

Rest In Peace, Al.

While I’m thinking about it, can anyone tell me what his favorite game was?