I wouldn't ignore him. Say hello with sincere honesty. Treat him as you would a sick person- with compassion, love, and care & concern. Otherwise you and your "friends" would be playing the Higher Power role, our job is to listen to our HP and be employed by that same HP. Get into the program of AA, don't fight it. I didn't get sober to be a jerk to someone else who is having a hard time.