Obituary of Thomas M. Allen

Thomas M. Allen, 77, of Rexford, died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Sunday evening, November 25, 2018, after a 30-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease.  Tom was born in Tannersville, NY to Harold Allen and Suzanne Worth Speenburg.  

He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Patricia; sister Jeanne Allen, sons Thomas Allen (Mary Doherty); David Allen, Brian Allen; and three grandchildren, Morgan, Greta and Carter.  Tom was a devoted and beloved son, brother, husband, father, friend and mentor. He was an active member of the community throughout his life, and was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Crescent. He enjoyed coaching his sons’ baseball, football and basketball teams, gardening and dancing with his wife and he was an avid hunter and fisherman.

Tom graduated from Hunter-Tannersville High Schooland obtained degrees in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering from the University of Vermont and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  Tom served as an Army Aviator in the 101st Airborne from where he served in many leadership positions before being Honorably Discharged as a 1st Lieutenant in 1966. Tom’s work as a professional engineer focused on improving water and air quality with the NYSDEC, where he served as Director for the Division of Air Resources from 1988-1995. He was instrumental in the development of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. During this time Tom also served as the President of the State & Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators (STAPPA) and led the efforts of Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM).  Tom was awarded the Air & Waste Management Association's S. Smith Griswold award in 1996, which is a national award given to an individual who has outstanding accomplishments in the prevention and control of air pollution. In retirement, Tom co-founded an environmental consulting business, Air Resources Group and for over a decade worked throughout the country as an instructor for the California Air Resources Board training new staff in air program activities. Tom loved music and dancing with his wife Patty, which they did at home and during their travels together across the country.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, December 2nd, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Catricala Funeral Home, 1597 Route 9 in Clifton Park, with a funeral service on Monday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Crescent. Burial will be in Saratoga National Cemetery following the funeral service at 11:30.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation,
P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014, or to the Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.