J. Douglas Alt, Jr.

J. Douglas Alt, Jr., born October 19, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, passed away peacefully at home, in Lincolnton, NC on Sunday, August 16, 2026. The son of Joseph Douglas Alt, Sr.and Ruth Elizabeth von Rodeck, Doug grew up in Morganville, New Jersey, and graduated from Freehold Regional High School.

Doug’s lifelong love of gymnastics began in high school and continued through college, where he served as team captain for two years and competed in the 1964 U.S. Olympic Trials, a testament to his discipline and athleticism. He later became the Men’s Gymnastics Coach at Princeton University, sharing his expertise and passion with the next generation of athletes.

Doug also served in the U.S. Army, carrying forward the same sense of commitment and determination that shaped every part of his life.

An entrepreneur in every sense, Doug transformed his devotion to gymnastics into a thriving business. Together with his former wife, Ute Alt Carberry, he developed, marketed, and operated Alt’s Gymnastics, a chain of eight schools across New Jersey and New York. Their work introduced thousands of children to the sport and included a coachtraining program and summer gymnastics camps that broadened opportunities for both young athletes and aspiring instructors.

Doug’s curiosity and drive extended far beyond gymnastics. He spent many years in marketing, including work with Ernst & Young, and pursued numerous entrepreneurial ventures throughout his life. His endeavors ranged from ski tour operator to paytelephone advertising, tour bus driver to book editor — each reflecting his willingness to explore new ideas and carve his own path.

Music was another constant thread in Doug’s life. In the 1960s, he performed across New Jersey with The Rusty Chain band, and he continued to play piano and sing throughout the decades that followed. He became a professional musician, performing at weddings, restaurants, and adult communities. He shared this work with his widow, Carolyn Alt, who supported him as marketing manager and partner in every performance.

Most recently, Doug continued his lifelong commitment to children’s movement and early development by running Sweet Peas PreSchool Gymnastics in Denver, North Carolina. His work there reflected the same joy, creativity, and care that defined his entire career.

Doug is survived by his daughter, Kristl Stanaland (David), and granddaughters Sarah and Leah. He is also survived by his sister Toni VanWagenen (Gerry), brothers Jack Alt (Cindy) and Ted Alt (Terri), and his partner Dee Greenwood.

He will be remembered for his creativity, his energy, and the way he poured himself fully into every passion he pursued. His legacy lives on in the athletes he coached, the students he inspired, the music he shared, and the many lives he touched along the way.

A private ceremony to celebrate Doug’s life to be scheduled and a private ceremony for his interment will occur at the Old Tennent Church Cemetery.