SAN ANTONIO – If you are in the tech industry in San Antonio, there’s little chance you never met Alan Weinkrantz, the Geekdom founding member, who was killed over the weekend in a car crash in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Weinkrantz was charismatic, generous and his friends and colleagues at Geekdom are planning a memorial that is fitting for a man described as the city’s best cheerleader.
"Alan Weinkrantz was 'el presidente' of Alan Weinkrantz and ompany but I think he should have also been entitled 'international smuggler' of authentic culture,” said fellow Geekdom founding member Winslow Swart.
Weinkrantz was famous for his smile and his contagious enthusiasm, but that was just the start.
Nick Longo, co-founder of Geekdom, said when they were starting out five years ago, there was no way he would have stayed on track without Weinkrantz’s support.
"He was the kind of guys who was wearing tennis shoes and listening to today's music and the Beatles in the same day. And he was so high energy and knew more about social media than any 20 or 30 year old in here,” Longo said.
Among his jobs, Weinkrantz would travel the world, making sure everyone knew that San Antonio had a tech presence.
Because of that, his friends had fun giving him new titles. "Not only was he a consummate collaborator, but I think he was San Antonio's brand ambassador and chief for our innovation and knowledge economy," explained Swart.
Cynthia Phelps, owner of InnerAlly, said Weinkrantz is the reason she continued her business in San Antonio. That’s why she says the city should celebrate him with love.
"Just love. Our love back to him the same way he loved the city and he promoted the city the same way he loved Geekdom and really took care of us with an open door policy," Phelps said.
Phelps was one of the many who “squatted” in his office while he was traveling. It was a tradition and an example of his generosity.
Now Geekdom is quickly remodeling and refurnishing a conference room with a view of the city in his honor. They are using his original office paint, furniture and art.
On Monday, a memorial is planned at Paper Tiger on North St. Mary’s Street at 7:30 p.m.
There will be a service and a Beatles tribute band will play afterward.
The public is invited to attend and show their appreciation to the man who put San Antonio on the tech grid.