New Comer Cannon Funeral Home
456-4442
Colonie, NY
John R. Allen, 88, of Colonie, died peacefully December 10, 2009 at Albany Memorial Hospital. Born in Troy, New York on September 2, 1921, John was the son of the late Alexander S. and Sara (Lamphier) Allen. He was raised in Cambridge, New York. John met Carolyn Tomaino at Hedges Lake, and after many happy evenings at the Hedge Lake Pavilion, they married on February 21, 1942. After military service in India during World War II, he returned to Troy and Graduated from Siena College, later studying at the Graduate School of Public Affairs at UAlbany. He held managerial positions at several New York State agencies, and retired from the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities in 1982. John cared for nature and the environment, and spent many happy hours planting literally thousands of trees on his land in Washington County and at Pinehaven Country Club in Guilderland. In addition to his beloved wife Carolyn, John is survived by his daughters Cynthia Abele of Delmar, NY and Penny O'Connell of Jonestown, TX, his grandchildren Susan Kelley of Atlanta, GA and Peter Abele of Troy, NY, his sister Virginia (Harry) Taylor of Colonie and numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brother Alexander S. Allen and his sister Dorothy Durrin and Helen Champoux.
A memorial service will be held 11:30am Tuesday December 15, 2009 at Pine Grove United Methodist Church, 1580 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12205. Memorial contributions may be made to the Heart Association, Pinegrove United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.newcomeralbany.com