George K. Allison

George Kay Allison, 74, of Palm Coast, FL died February 14, 2018. He was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, raised in Swampscott, MA and was the third child to Dr. Richmond Woodbury Allison and Dorothy Kay (MacLennan) Allison. He is survived by his elder sister Mary Jane Gilbert of Revere, MA and predeceased by his elder brother, Richmond Woodbury Allison, Jr., of Wolfeboro, NH. George was educated at Valley Forge Academy in Valley Forge, PA as well as The Forman School in Litchfield, CT. He went on to receive his B.A. from Union College in Kentucky and later his M.A. from Trinity College in CT.

After college, George served in the United States Armed Forces in the late 60’s where he had the privilege and honor of serving in the Honor Guard presiding over Military Funerals as one of his many duties. After being stationed in Germany he was honorably discharged in 1970.

A devoted family man, George was married to Ana Lucia (Lucy) Allison in Litchfield, CT in 1969 and father to two daughters who love him to no ends, Nicole Kay Allison of Stamford, CT and Sage Allison (Ed) Kroell of Roswell, GA. George was also the beloved grandfather of two boys, George Edward Ramon Kroell, 9 and Harry Nichols Xavier Kroell, 6, to whom he has passed on his love for all things Red Sox and Patriots.

George Allison had a highly successful 45-year career at Independent Boarding and Day Schools, beginning at The Forman School in Litchfield, CT where he was once a student, followed by the Knox School in St. James, NY as Assistant Headmaster. He served as Headmaster at The Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, PA for 24 years and then returned to his “home by the shore” as Headmaster at The Knox School in St. James, NY. George retired in 2012 to his current place of residence in Palm Coast, FL where he became a hugely active participant in the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce and the Flagler County Education Foundation.

George Allison was extremely passionate about his life’s work. As a Dyslexic student during his high school days at The Forman School, he came to understand the need for specialized education for the many students struggling with Dyslexia. Armed with this knowledge, he helped to create the programs (which still flourish to this day) to support and teach students with Dyslexia at the Forman School, the Knox School and the Perkiomen School.

Under his tenure at The Perkiomen School he helped to shape much of what the school and campus is today. After a major fire in 1994 destroyed Kriebel Hall, the Heart and Soul of the campus, he began a Capital Campaign (raising more than $30,000,000.00) to completely rebuild Kriebel, as well as the building of the iconic cupola, which had been part of the plan for Kriebel Hall since 1875 but never a reality. At Perkiomen, he was also responsible for the renovating of Kehs Hall, the Fine Arts building, the wiring of the campus for the internet and lastly, the creation of the Schumo Academic Center just to name a few of the areas he improved.

George was also a member and Trustee of the world’s largest accrediting organization, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) as well as the Commission on Secondary Schools (CSS) where he served multiple roles. He also has Chaired accreditation teams and candidacy visits in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Japan.

But, more than anything, what he did was more than just build buildings, raise funds and try to better every school he touched. George, or GKA as he was known, was a beloved mentor, coach, teacher, colleague and life-long friend to so many of his former teachers and students, or “kids” as he often referred to them. He was tough, brave, and dedicated to his students and faculty and the loss of this great soul is being felt around the world.

In addition to his illustrious career as an educator, George was devoted, loyal and faithful to the things he held most dear in life. Chiefly, sitting on the porch and watching the water at the Big Camp on Keniston Island in Wolfeboro, NH, driving around Lake Winnipesaukee in his beloved 1934 Garwood, Jessie, getting the paper every morning, smoking cigars, drinking Johnnie Walker scotch (ice on the side) and riding tractor lawn mowers (while smoking said cigars). He was also a life-long supporter of his hometown teams, the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots, watching and rooting for them every night and could be found regularly wearing at least one (or more) article of clothing with a logo emblazoned upon it. But of course, the thing he held most dear of all was his family, who will miss him each and every day.

A Memorial Service for family and friends is scheduled for Saturday, February 24th, 2018 at 3:00 PM at the Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home located on 511 Old Kings Rd. South, Flagler Beach, FL 32136. The family will received friends an hour prior to the service.

Condolences may be sent to www.craigflaglerpalms.com