The territory has lost a man who has contributed tremendously to the development of American Samoa and has left an imprint in many spheres of the community.
Alo Dr Paul Stevenson passed away last Thursday at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona surrounded by his wife of 60 years, Sharon, their children and grandchildren.. He was 82.
Alo was serving his third term as Senator for Fagasa at the time of his passing. His long and distinguished career began in the classroom as a science teacher at Fagaitua High School before he joined DOE’s Division of Curriculum and Instruction.
He was an educational television teacher, became the chair of the Science Department and rose the ranks to become Deputy Director of the Department of Education before he moved to the private sector.
His career in business was in natural resources mining and energy. He held managerial roles in oil companies like Pacific Resources Inc. , Tesoro and British Petroleum. Alo also owned several businesses. These include Lumana’i Development Corporation, Island Lubricants and Stevenson Trucking.
He was bestowed the Alo title in his village of Fagasa in 1996. During the Centennial Flag Day celebration in 2000, Alo skippered Fagasa’s Fealofani Samoa II fautasi that won the battle of the seas that year .
Alo spoke about Fagasa’s fautasi history at a Fautasi Heritage Symposium and Exhibition hosted by the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa and the Historic Preservation Office in 2019.
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Alo first entered the Senate in 2009. He served a second term from 2021 – 2024 and was again picked as senator for the current 39th Legislature. He has held the chairmanship of the Senate Education Committee and in previous legislatures was chairman of the Economic Development Committee. It was during Alo’s first term as senator that he was vice chairman of the Senate Select Investigative Committee which referred ASG officials for prosecution, leading some to be convicted in federal court. He was also Eastern District Governor from 2013-2016 and from 2017-2020.
Alo has served on many government boards and commission including the first board of the Territorial Bank of American Samoa, was chairman of the American Samoa Petroleum Cooperative Board and was a founding member of the Amerika Samoa Bank. He has also been Chairman of the American Samoa Chamber of Commerce.
A longtime Republican he has led the American Samoa Republican Party as party chairman.
Outside of American Samoa Alo was a member of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council for many years.
Alo received his elementary education at the Marist Brothers Primary School in Suva, Fiji then attended the High School of American Samoa graduating in 1964. He attended Warren Wilson Jr College, North Carolina where he met his wife.
He attained his BA from Mars Hill College and his Masters from George Peabody College. Alo obtained his doctorate degree from Brighman Young University.
Alo is survived by his wife Sharon, four daughters, one son and 9 grandchildren. KHJ News extends our deepest sympathies for your loss.
