Quincy House Master David A. Aloian '49 announced in a letter to house residents Monday that he will leave his post because of health problems.

Aloian, who has served as executive director of the Associated Harvard Alumni (AHA) since 1978, has also taken an indefinite medical leave of absence from that administrative post, Vice President for Alumni Affairs Fred L. Glimp '50 said yesterday.

"Aloian doesn't expect to return" to the directorship, said Glimp, who is serving as temporary head of AHA. But Glimp said it would be premature to begin selecting a new director "until the details of [Aloian's] health situation become clearer."

In the short notice to Quincy residents, Aloian said he and his wife, Mary M. (Mimi) Aloian, who serves as associate master, wished they did not have to leave at the end of this year, "because we have thoroughly enjoyed being in the house."

"But my health simply forbids our continuing," wrote Aloian, who currently is in the hospital.

The departure caught the University by surprise, Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57 said, adding there is no decision yet on picking the next master. "We might select an acting master for next year, so as to have a more thorough selction process," Jewett said.

The Aloians could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The Aloians' departure will increase to three the number of house masters who have announced their departure this year. Mather Masters David and Patricia A. Herlihy and Currier Masters Dudley R. and Georgene B. Herschbach will leave their posts at the end of the term.

"We expect a final decision before the end of the year on their successors," Jewett said. "We're honing in," he added.

The dean of the College and the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science selectmasters in consultation with the president.

Dean of the Faculty A. Michael Spence andPresident Derek C. Bok could not be reached forcomment yesterday.

Administrators, faculty members and studentsyesterday praised the Aloians, saying their warmthand caring are a boon to the Harvard community.

"David is the kind of person the institutiondepends on on the administrative side," said HenryRosovsky, Geyser University Professor and memberof the Harvard Corporation, who was dean of thefaculty when Aloian was appointed Quincy master.

"They care deeply about Harvard," said VicePresident and General Counsel Daniel Steiner '54."They are very warm and very dedicated."

In an article printed in the Harvard Gazette,David Aloian wrote of his son's upcoming fouryears at the College, "Finally I hope he will fallin love often--often with young women ofcourse--but also with books, with ideas, withpaintings, with science and history, andliterature, with learning as a way of life, and ifall goes for him as it did for me, maybe even withHarvard itself."

As executive director of AHA, Aloian oversawHarvard's relations with its 200,000 alumni. Hetook part in planning for the University's 350thanniversary and the five-year $350 million HarvardCampaign.

Glimp said Aloian will be credited withexpanding the AHA and bringing women. minoritiesand recent graduates into a more active role inalumni affairs.

Assistant to the Master Paula Jones said thecouple will be remembered for bringing arts toQuincy House. Quincy has just completed its annualarts week, which the Aloians instituted.

Jones said when she was hired two years ago bythe Aloians, they said their job was to "make sureno students graduate anonymously."

"They are really accessible and easy to talkto," said Quincy resident Charleen Chu '87. "Mimicomes up with all sorts of activities within thehouse," said Chu, who currently is taking potterya pottery course with the co-master.

"They were very reserved, but they were good atmaking you feel at home," said Katrina Schwartz'87.

"There are great satisfactions in guiding youngpeople through their formative years," DavidAloian wrote in the College's guide to houses.

"[Students] are a constant source of interestand delight, stimulating our own intellects andchallenging our talents," Mimi Aloian wrote