OBITUARY Al “Big Al” Plaskoff January 31, 1944 – November 24, 2018 PLASKOFF, Alvin (Big Al) Darrel of Dallas, Texas passed away on November 24, 2018 at the age of 74. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on January 31, 1944, to Faye and Harry Plaskoff, Al and his family relocated to Miami, Florida in 1950. Al grew up fishing and boating while attending school.
He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, forever instilling his love of adventure and the outdoors as well as the work ethic and refulness he brought to every part of his life. A few years after graduating from Southwest High School and attending Dade County Community College in Miami, Al and his friend, Randy Levy, decided to venture out of Florida and move to Dallas, TX. Shortly thereafter, both men met their future wives and started their families.
In Dallas, Al worked at Farmer’s Meat Market as a meat salesman, selling to restaurants, schools and hospital districts and grocers all over DFW area. In 1973, Al purchased his first restaurant, naming it Big Al’s Smokehouse Barbeque. He continued selling meat, while also running Big Al’s Smokehouse for several years.
By the early 1980s, Big Al’s Smokehouse had grown to multiple locations and added a successful catering business, earning recognition and notable awards in the DFW area to this day. Al enjoyed giving back to his community by supporting and reading to the children at Maple Lawn Elementary and participating in their mentorship program. He also supported and partnered with many local non-profits including Teen Life Challenge of North Texas, Aaron Family JCC and his neighbors at the Cathedral of Hope.
As hard as he worked, Big Al loved spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed countless hobbies and activities, displaying the same aptitude and enthusiasm he showed in every aspect of his life. Al’s true passions included boating, fishing, hunting, skiing, building models, cooking and above all loved sharing them with his family and friends.
Following his marriage to Harriet Plaskoff, he devoted his remaining years to his life partner, Linda Daniel. They enjoyed travel, weekends at the lake and hosting family occasions. Al’s family and friends will miss his enduring affection, life-long passions for food, fishing expeditions, adventurous spirit, zest for life and above all – his never-ending ability to bring a smile to everyone around him.
Al is preceded in death by his parents, Faye and Harry Plaskoff. He is survived by his partner of 25 years, Linda Daniel, brother Martin Plaskoff (wife Sarah), daughter Lauran Weiner (husband Steven), son Bart Plaskoff (wife Melissa), 5 grandchildren, Linda’s children, Gabe Rosenthal (wife Shelly), Ginger Levine (husband David Wallace), Josh Daniel (wife Joey) and 5 grandchildren as well as the Big Al’s Smokehouse family. A Memorial Service will be held at Temple Emanu-El at 12pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2018.
The family would like to thank The Legacy at Willow Bend and Vitas Healthcare for caring for Al during his final stage in life. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven Road Dallas, Texas 75230 or The Legacy Senior Communities, 6101 Ohio Drive, Plano, Texas 75024.
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