Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 15:35:46 :
Independent Journal
Tuesday, June 3, 1980
FREDERICK S. ALLEN
A memorial service for Frederick S. Allen, longtime mayor and devoted citizen of Ross, will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Allen died Monday following a lengthy illness. H was 67.
The family prefers memorial contributions to the Fred S. Allen Park in Ross or your favorite charity.
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A Death Notice in the same paper mentions his wife, Barbara R. Allen, and his children: Frederick S. Allen Jr., Jonathan Brook Allen, Thomas William Allen and Mrs. Gage F. Olcott; he was the brother of Mrs. Paul W. Lapay and Mrs. Elliott Forbes; grandfather of six; a native of New York.
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Independent Journal
Monday, June 2, 1980
Page 1
Frederick Allen dies; former Ross mayor
Frederick S. Allen, longtime mayor and most devoted citizen of the town of Ross, died in his sleep early today.
Allen who would have been 68 next month, had been gamely fighting a losing battle with cancer for more than a year. He resigned last September as mayor, after 15 years in the post and almost 20 years on the Town Council.
John Chase, Allen’s successor as mayor, said today that “despite his illness Fred continued to contribute unselfishly to his community. He was Ross’s greatest booster and fulltime volunteer. We all shall miss our Mayor Allen.”
Through all his years in office, no civic job was too humble for Allen to tackle. When no one else on the town’s tiny staff could keep the city offices open, he was there to do it. He knew when the town’s prized shade trees needed attention, how every construction project was faring and whenever there were disputes that were upsetting neighbors.
By his example, he led Ross residents to donate much money and time to keeping the town functioning when Proposition 13 bit deeply into municipal revenues. He was the first to donate $1,000 to make sure that town employees could be rewarded with a bonus for good work and hundreds of other families responded by giving the town part of the money they saved in property taxes after Proposition 13.
Citizens, friends and reporters recalled today that Allen was always willing to talk about the goals and problems of the town and its residents and was not afraid to battle other governmental agencies to preserve the unique character of his town.
His pride in his town was reflected by his auto’s license places: “Ross 1.”
Allen was born in New York City and graduated from Harvard University. He served in the Navy in World War II and Korea, retiring as a commander. He and his family moved to Ross in 1945.
He was a retired vice president of the Pacific Coast Title Co. and since his retirement had devoted almost full time to Ross civic duties.
He was a member of the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ross, the Elks Lodge in San Rafael, the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Military Order of the World Wars and the Society of Naval Architects and Marin Engineers.
Allen is survived by his wife, Barbara, and four grown children.
Mrs. Allen said today that “he’s at peace after a hard year.” She said the funeral will be delayed pending the return Wednesday of two sons who were on a raft trip down the Snake River.
Allen’s remains will be cremated and buried in the Olema Cemetery. Keaton’s Mortuary in San Rafael is in charge of arrangements.
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