Alden has been walking the Maine beaches since 1925, and first swam at Drakes Island in 1931.  He later met his wife-to-be Marjorie when she was a student nurse at Mass General Hospital.  They in turn walked the beach from her aunt's house on the waterfront on Drakes Island.  They spent part of their honeymoon at the Eaton Farm on D.I., and the family beachfront house.

Alden graduated from Northeastern University with a B.S. in engineering,  and an MBA.  Marjorie and Alden have 5 children, 24 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. All have spent time at the beach, and will continue to for many years to come.  Concerned with the beach profile changes due to the jetties, and the rights of homeowners at Drakes Island and other southern Maine beaches, he knows that S.O.S. members have been influential in getting the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to re-write the Sand Dune rules, and for the Board of Environmental Protection to accept them.