Alan Daniel Stiller
Retirement at 81 – A Legacy Cast in Concrete
This month, as Alan steps away at 81, we celebrate not just a retirement, but a legacy.
Our 50/50 partnership over these 27 years has been nothing short of remarkable. It wasn’t just a business partnership it was a shared vision built on trust, respect, resilience, and grit.
Alan always said:
“No job is too big and no job is too small.”
And he meant it.
Meeting Alan for the first time in 1999 started as nothing more than a job interview. Alan was running the business on his own at the time, as his late father, Maurice Stiller, was stepping into retirement. At the time Alan was merely looking for an employee with a background in concrete manufacturing but neither of us could have imagined what that moment would become.
From those early days, our intergenerational collaborative journey began almost immediately. I was eager to grow the business quickly, probably faster than Alan had expected. But it didn’t take long for us both to realise: there was no stopping us once we got going. That’s when we truly found our rhythm and started riding the wave together.
And what an incredible ride! Alan brought old-school knowledge passed down from his father, while I brought new ideas and kept pace with evolving technology. That balance became our strength.
Over the decades, Alan helped shape countless buildings alongside architects and designers across Johannesburg and beyond. He has a remarkable ability to take complex architectural visions and simplify them into workable, practical precast solutions. Where others saw complicated drawings and impossible deadlines, Alan saw opportunity.
If something looked impossible, he didn’t say no.
He designed.
He adjusted.
He made a plan.
And somehow, he made it work.
Looking back, it’s incredible to see how far we’ve come, from the days of floppy disks to a world where a cellphone holds more power than any computer we had back then.
Together Alan and I created a client centred company culture, a small residential coping carries the same importance as a large commercial façade. My partnership with Alan was never short of excitement. It demanded resilience, creativity, and grit. But above all, it was built on mutual respect and an unwavering commitment to delivering quality.
Alan, the “old goat,” as we joked, is deeply respected in the industry. Known to many as Mr Lintel, I doubt there’s anyone who has sold more lintels than him. There wasn’t a place he didn’t know or a customer he hadn’t built a relationship with. From north to south, east to west, and even beyond our borders, we grew and expanded together.
On a personal note, I remember trying to get to work earlier than Alan, only to realise very quickly, that no one could beat him. His dedication, his love for the business, and his commitment to his clients are what made him who he is.
Alan’s contribution to Modcon and to the many contractors, architects, and suppliers who worked alongside him cannot be overstated. He built more than structures; he built relationships.
He has copious stories. Favourite clients, difficult clients, big personalities and tight deadlines. But no matter who you are, you are treated the same, fairly, directly and professionally. This principle remains part of Modcon’s DNA today.
Alan, thank you for your leadership.
Thank you for your standards.
Thank you for the legacy you leave behind not only at Modcon, but across the industry.
From all of us, we wish you health, happiness, and time to enjoy the next chapter.
The buildings will stand for decades.
Your influence will last even longer.
