First Roseville HP site manager dies

An innovator, a man who is said to have been instrumental in the growth of Roseville, has died. After a long battle with Parkinson's disease, Alan Leroy Seely, died recently at his home in Carmel. The former Placer County resident, who lived in the Loomis/Granite Bay area before retiring along the coast, is credited with assembling a team to build a new division of Hewlett-Packard in Roseville. He also served as the first manager for the local site. "He was a real leader," said friend and co-worker Dave Prindiville of Rocklin, who worked with Seely in 1977. "Alan was a major contributor to the community." So much in fact that Prindiville said Roseville wouldn't be what it is today without Seely's foresight. "Alan was involved with the project from 'ground zero,' so to speak," Prindiville said. "He arranged for the purchase of the land and worked closely with the Roseville community to ensure HP's success in Placer County and the simultaneous growth of the area. "He (Seely) went up and down the West Coast trying to find a place to (build) and decided on Roseville," Prindiville said. "He went to San Luis Obispo, Chico, Marysville, Reno, Carson City - Al did all that. "I strongly believe that without his decision, Roseville would not have become what it is today, by today," Prindiville concluded. "I think the 65 bypass would have happened but not as quickly. I think Roseville would have grown, but not as fast. ...The whole Foothills Boulevard expansion was because of our expansion and because of our size, I think." Prindiville, who worked alongside Seely as a site personnel manager, said he will always remember Seely as a respectful, hard-working man. "There is nobody who represented the Hewlett-Packard way finer than Alan," Prindiville said. "His extremely high ethics, his dedication to hard work and quality, was seen by everyone who worked with him or associated with him. It was a great, great honor to work with him." Seely was born Jan. 2, 1935 in Columbus, Ohio. He moved to California during high school and, after serving in the Navy for four years, met his wife of 44 years, Kathleen, in Colorado. Seely joined Hewlett Packard in 1960, where he spent a 30-year career. While living in the foothills, Seely enjoyed the great outdoors and hiking and skiing in Auburn and Lake Tahoe.His wife said she'll remember her husband for his love of life, enthusiasm and uplifting spirit. Services were held Friday in Monterey.Jamie Trump can be reached at jamiet@goldcountrymedia.com.