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Adrian Russell “Russ” Allan died on December 23. He was 79.
Born on October, 25, 1936, he was the son of Helen (Temple) and Adrian Allan, both of whom predeceased him. He attended the Quogue School and Westhampton Beach High School. He often shared a boyhood memory of the day during World War II, while at a Quogue block party, he spotted a plane crashing into the nearby ocean. He shouted “look!” and many of the local men attending the party ran to their boats to help.
He later attended South Kent School in Connecticut, followed by several years at St. Lawrence University, after which he enlisted in the Army and learned the Czech language at the Army Language School in Monterey, California and served in the Army Security Agency.
After his military discharge, he finished his studies at Columbia University, majoring in French Literature, an interest he followed for the remainder of his life. After he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1964, he immediately volunteered for service with the Council of Federated Organizations, under whose aegis were grouped the Civil Rights groups in Mississippi. He served there for a year, registering voters and then returned to Columbia for a master’s degree.
He accepted his first job teaching French and Latin in 1969 at West Rutland High School. After two years there he taught French for another three years at Fair Haven High School.
Mr. Allan, while keeping up his interest in the French language and culture, eventually turned to the occupation of paralegal. As such, he worked for and contracted with various law firms researching real estate titles. He also worked as a right-of-way agent for Central Vermont Public Service.
He also worked as a school bus driver for the Town of Hubbardton.Mr. Allan was a member of the Hubbardton Fire Department during the latter part of the 1970s, serving as its treasurer. He was later appointed by the Select Board to the newly formed Hubbardton Planning Commission. Along with the commission’s chairman, the late Al Henske, he helped create the town’s first zoning ordinances which were adopted in October 1985. He also served for a time as chairman of the town’s Board of Adjustment.
His last years were spent volunteering for hospice, both in Rutland and Addison counties, pursuing his love of French literature and culture, reading, reporting the weather from Hubbardton daily to Vermont Public Radio, reading, traveling, photography and Photoshop, as well as his passion for collecting model trains.
He enjoyed time spent with Judy, his wife of 42 years, and they enjoyed their home in Hubbardton, as well as traveling extensively throughout the years.
Mr. Allan was predeceased by a nephew, Christopher Ferrebee. He is survived by his wife, Judith (Greene) Allan; two brothers, Thomas T. Allan and wife Elizabeth of Virginia, and E. Davies Allan and wife Nancy of Maine; and a sister, Hal Christine Ferrebee of Remsenburg. He is also survived by nephews, Bradley Allan and wife Catherine of Southampton, Seth Allan and wife Susie of East Quogue and Alex Allan and wife Allison, also of East Quogue, Thomas Allan Jr. of Virginia, Adam Allan of Manhattan; a niece, Katherine Bisinger and husband Bradford of New Jersey; and six great-nieces and great-nephews.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Clifford Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church at 85 West Street in Rutland, Vermont, on Saturday, April 23, at 1 p.m., with the Reverend Liam Muller officiating. A reception will follow at Baxter’s Restaurant on Grove Street in Rutland.
Mr. Allan died from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and so memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association of the Northeast, Attention Susan Hewitt/ for IPF Research. Donations may be mailed to Clifford Funeral Home, 2 Washington Street, Rutland, VT 05701.
on Mar 16, 2016