Obituary of R. Dennis Allen

R, Dennis Allen, 64 years old, passed away unexpectedly on Friday February 1, 2019. He was a native of Lake Placid and the son of Robert and Gloria Allen.

"The Allens have left The Building" Lake Placid News May 4 when Denny retired after 37.5 years. And to quote his speech on his father's passing "My father spent a lifetime in service to this community." The saying that "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree could never be more true".

Denny began his sports and event administrative career in 1978 when he was hired as an Assistant for ice sports at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games. He was later appointed Venue Manager of the Sheffield Speed Skating Oval for the Olympic Games. After the Olympics, he was hired as Director of Operations of the iconic Olympic Center by the Town of North Elba. Denny went on to become Director of Events for ORDA and later was promoted to General Manager of the Olympic Center.

Denny has been involved in countless national and international figure skating, ice hockey, and speed skating events as well as, numerous concerts and conventions. In 2002 during pregame and Olympic Game competition in Salt Lake City, he was a consultant and field of play supervisor, overseeing ice preparations for both short track speed skating and figure skating. He held this same position for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy, enjoying every second.

He has been a prominent figure in the Lake Placid ice hockey program. For 20 years, he has served as a coach and official. He has coached the U6 hockey program for Lake Placid Youth Athletic Association, been an ECAC referee and linesman, and has been a part of the National Ice Hockey Officials Association.

Denny loved walking his dogs, hiking, kayaking, and traveling. But most of all he loved life and his family.

Denny is predeceased by Bob and Gloria Allen. He is survived by his beloved wife, Karen Cooper, his daughter Halina Allen Lyons and her husband Chas of Middlebury, Vermont and precious granddaughters, Aurelia and Beatrix; Karen's children Sasha, Josh (Alison) and Casey; his sister Darcy Allen Pattison and her husband Taylor of Northport, New York; his sister Deborah Allen Modrovsky and her husband, Albert of Park City, Utah and his brother David Breen Allen of Lake Placid, New York. Also survived by his nieces; Ashley, Sarah, Alison, Breen, Paige, his nephew Daniel, and his Great nephew Maxwell.

Calling hours are at M.B. Clark Funeral Home, February 7th from 5-8 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the 1980 Olympic Rink on Friday, February 8th at 10 am. On Friday evening from 7-9 pm there will be an Open Skate Memorial on the Olympic Speed Skating Oval with free admission and skate rentals in honor of Denny. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the PeeWee Association or The Nursing Education Memorial Fund Associations.

Relatives and friends are invited to share a memory, order flowers upload a photo or leave condolences at www.mbclarkfuneralhome.com .