Chiropractor and Nutritionist, Dr. Allan Sachs died on November 3, 2018. Since 1978, Allan was known as a respected and compassionate health practitioner in Woodstock and later in Red Hook. He was 74 years old.
The son of Julian and Beatrice Sachs, Allan was born on August 31, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Brooklyn College and received his chiropractic degree in 1977 from New York Chiropractic College. During these years in New York City, Allan was a vocal opponent of the Vietnam war.
Though Allan was raised in the city, he felt a lifelong draw to nature. He followed his passions by moving his young family to Woodstock where he first established his practice by the Mill Stream. Allan began his career offering adjustments and other standard chiropractic services, but his interest in holistic health led him to expand his work into diet, allergies and herbal medicine. He would go on to lead several entrepreneurial ventures in the field including a natural medicine company and a health food store in Red Hook. Those who knew Allan noted his intelligence, his quirky wit, and his love for the underdog. He helped many people regardless of their ability to pay and was extremely generous with his time and attention to his patients.
Allan was also widely known as a lover of animals and could frequently be seen hiking Guardian Mountain or at Poet’s Walk on the Hudson River with a canine companion. His home was often full of rescued animals. He was also an avid collector and cultivator of cacti and rare staghorn ferns.
Later in life, Allan turned his attention to teaching about holistic healthcare: writing articles, giving lectures and even publishing a children’s book on healthy eating.
For the last decade, Allan struggled courageously with depression. He recently reminded his family how grateful he was for his good days, his physical abilities, and his community. This Saturday, he made the choice to end his life at his home in Elizaville. He is survived by his brother Howard, three loving children — Jonah (43), Emily (41) and Zoe (25) — and grandchildren Mira (10) and Orion (8).
A memorial service to honor Allan will be held on Nov 17 from 11:30am-2:00pm at the Woodstock Community center. PLEASE RSVP to esachs1@gmail.com.