Gordon Allen, 86, of Vestal, NY, passed away peacefully at Mercy House in Endicott, on Friday, November 18, 2022. He was predeceased by his parents, Kenneth and Ruth Allen, his brother Keith Allen, and sister Joyce (Lynn) Washburn. He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Alice “Bunny” (Frost) Allen, his three children Heidi Allen (Kim Capwell) of Brackney, PA, Peter Allen (Samie) of Montgomery Village, MD, and Eric Allen (Margaret Johnson) of Warren, VT; three grandchildren Mackenzie Allen, Brady Allen, and Amelia Allen; brothers Harlan Allen and David Allen, sisters Rebecca Allen and Brenda Allen; cousin Gary Crawford; and several nieces and nephews.
Gordon grew up in Castile (Wyoming county), NY, and graduated from Letchworth Central High School. He attended Rochester Institute of Technology prior to serving in the US Army. He graduated cum laude from the Syracuse University School of Journalism in 1961. While at Syracuse, he met and married the love of his life, Bunny, a nursing student. They wed in December of 1959.
Gordon, who started his newspaper career working as a printer on his hometown weekly paper while in high school, became an editor on daily newspapers in Syracuse (Herald-Journal), St. Petersburg FL (St. Pete Times), and Elmira (Star-Gazette), prior to joining the weekly Vestal News as editor and part owner in 1970. While there, he co-founded a second community weekly, Tempo of the Towns, which served the western Broome County area from 1971 to 1980. As editor of these papers, Gordon particularly relished his bird’s eye view of all aspects of local community life, from schools, sports, town events, politics, police/fire, service organizations, business, youth activities, etc. None of it escaped his reporter’s eye.
Gordon embarked on a second career when he attended Syracuse University Law School in 1980. Upon graduation from law school, he joined the law firm of his old army buddy Earl D. Butler, which continued as the Butler & Allen law office. Gordon retired from the law firm in 1998 while continuing to serve as attorney for the Vestal Zoning Board of Appeals until 2004. He remained very active in Broome County Bar Association projects until shortly before his death.
Upon retiring from the law firm, he worked part time for 15 years on a loading dock for Modern Marketing Concepts, Inc. It was his preferred work-out regimen over a treadmill.
Long active in the community, Gordon served many organizations including Boy Scout Troop 225, Lions Clubs of Elmira and Vestal, Vestal Republican Committee, Vestal Town Board, Vestal Youth Football League Board of Directors, Vestal Gridiron Committee, Vestal High School Booster Club including 22 years on the Board of Directors, Broome County Bar Association and the Broome County Family Court Committee, Rounds Coal House Project Committee, Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Western Broome, Vestal Public Library Board of Directors on which he served for ~30 years, adjunct faculty member at SUNY-Binghamton teaching journalism, Broome Community College Foundation, Vestal Historical Society board of directors for over 20 years, and Meals on Wheels of Western Broome County.
He cherished his participation and leadership in Vestal’s 150th and 175th anniversary celebrations in 1973 and 1998. He was co-chairman of the latter event along with his longtime friend and fellow Vestal Historical Society member, Jack McQuiston. Many traditional town events evolved out of these celebrations, including the annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Front Street Days/Vestal Festival, which Gordon always loved to participate in, especially the bathtub races!
As a result of his lengthy community involvement, Gordon developed a large and diverse group of dear friends who were all touched by his honesty, integrity, humility, kindness, humor, and friendship. His passing is a huge loss to his Vestal community, and all who knew him.
In addition to his community, above all else, Gordon loved his family, especially spending time with the grandkids. He treasured the vacations to Cape Cod every summer with family, watching the kids, and then the grandkids, grow up over 50 years at Barnstable Harbor. And of course, he enjoyed periodic treks with Bunny to Maryland and Vermont for more time with the grandkids. We will miss you Pop!
His family would like to thank his dear friends (and there were many!) for their sincere and heartfelt words regarding Gordon’s impact on their lives. Your words have meant more than we can express during this very difficult time.
Calling hours are scheduled for Sunday, December 18th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, at Allen Memorial Home, 511-513, East Main Street, Endicott, NY. A celebration of life is under consideration for early Summer 2023. Date and time to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Gordon’s memory may be made to Meals on Wheels of Western Broome County, 705 W. Main St, Endicott, NY 13760, or Mercy House of the Southern Tier, 212 N. McKinley Ave, Endicott, NY 13760.