Richard Edwin "Dick" Allen, 94, died Jan. 10, 2025, as the result of complications from a fall at Birch Bay Village. 

He was born on June 14, 1930, in Long Beach, California where his parents had relocated from Maine.

When Dick was nine months old his family realized the error of their ways and moved back to Southwest Harbor by ship via the Panama Canal. Dick was the third son of Arthur and Marie (Rumill) Allen. 

Dick graduated from Pemetic High School in 1948, where he helped lead the basketball team to the Class M State Championship with his legendary hook shots and pointed elbows perfect for boxing out opponents. 

After attending Aurora College in Illinois, he returned to his hometown of Southwest Harbor. In 1958 he married Mary Robinson, the beautiful girl next door. The young couple moved out to the west coast where Dick worked in the paper industry. A few years later after their daughter was born, they moved back to Southwest Harbor and bought a small house overlooking the harbor. After his first marriage ended, Dick raised his daughter with help from his mother and second wife. He became passionate about skiing and every Sunday would fill the car with local kids and would head to Squaw Mountain in Greenville. Several years later he won the heart of a young MDI High School teacher Caroline Andrews whom he married in 1971 and had two sons.

Through the years Dick greatly enjoyed spending time during the summer at his wife’s family cottage on McKown Point in Boothbay Harbor where he made many memories with family and friends.

Dick was an athlete who loved to compete whether it was basketball, skiing, or eventually paddle/tennis. He was a dedicated employee at Sawyers Market where he worked behind the meat counter for 50 years. Dick was a fixture in Southwest Harbor, with a great sense of humor and a wonderful ability to connect with everyone.  As a dad he could do anything, whether it was sports, fixing what was broken, or building something new. He was the quintessential father who was always there when you needed him. He loved his children and grandchildren deeply and though no one can live forever; he was the sort of man who everyone thought just might. Dick lived in his home overlooking Southwest Harbor until last spring when he moved to Birch Bay Retirement Village. Even until the end he kept the staff there laughing with his wit and sarcasm.

Dick is survived by his children, Vanessa Allen and her partner Peter Norsen of Lamoine; James Allen and wife Erin of Mount Desert; Andrew Allen and wife Susan of Southwest Harbor; four grandchildren: Taber, Bowdoin, Lily and Violet; his second wife Caroline Andrews and David Zuk of Ellsworth; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews, and a dear friend David Stanley who was as close as a son. 

Dick was predeceased by his brothers Loren and Lawrence of California and first wife Mary Robinson.  

The family wants to thank the caring and dedicated staff at Birch Bay Retirement Village and a special caregiver Melissa Michaud who became a wonderful friend during his last few years.

A celebration of life will be held in the summer.

Gifts in Dick’s memory can be made to an organization he felt strongly about and who came to his aid on occasion, the SWH-Tremont Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 437, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679.

Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com