Gordon E. Allen

Gordon E. Allen of Orchid, Florida and Osterville, Massachusetts,formerly of Westfield, New Jersey, passed away on January 22, 2016.Born on February 4, 1926, he was the husband of Sally Sprague Allen for 64 years. This marriage united two descendants of the very early settlers of this country. The Allens arrived in the colonies in 1632 in Braintree, Massachusetts and the Spragues in 1628 in Salem, Massachusetts.

Gordon was the son of George Roswell Allen and Margaret Gibson Allen and the father of Janet Joslin Voute (husband Peter) of Vessy, Switzerland, Judith Gibson Allen of Rye, New York, and Betsy Allen Sinnigen (husband Jack) of Sudbury, Massachusetts, and grandfather to Caroline, Alexandra and Charlotte Voute, Margaret and Ross Mulkerrin and Christine, John and Kyle Sinnigen. He was pre-deceased by his brother, Everett Gaspar, in 2010 and sister, Eleanor Allen Leaver, in 2014.

Gordon was a graduate of Brown University, Class of 1950, after serving as a radio operator in the U.S. Air Force in Europe during WWII. Upon graduation, he joined Cluett, Peabody & Company as a trainee and advanced through many roles to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer from 1978 to 1985. During these years he also served as Chairman of the American Apparel Manufacturing Association (AAMA.) He was interim CEO and Chairman of the Board for Crystal Brands in the early 1990’s. He also served as President of Toastmasters of Westfield, and as a Trustee of the Presbyterian Church of Westfield.

After retirement, the move to Osterville resulted in leadership roles in many community organizations, including terms as Treasurer of the Osterville Village Library, Membership Chair and member of the Board of Governors of Oyster Harbors Club and Treasurer of The Beach Club of Centerville. He also served on the Board of the Orchid Island Community Association and the Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club during his time in Florida.

Gordon loved his family and was deeply committed to his friends. He was an eternal optimist who will be sorely missed.

His funeral service will be Friday, February 5, 2016 at 11:00 am at the Doane, Beal and Ames Funeral Home, 160 West Main Street in Hyannis followed by a Celebration of Life at Vero Beach Community Church on March 18, 2016 at 1:00 pm

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Osterville Village Library at 43 Wianno Avenue, Osterville, MA 02655.