Paul F. Allen

COLEBROOK, NH—Mr. Paul F. Allen, 79, of Colebrook, passed away late Friday evening, July 19, 2013, at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook, after a long period of declining health. He was born on Dec. 23, 1933, in Colchester, Vt., the only child of the late Homer and Madeline (McFarland) Allen of Groveton. Mr. Allen graduated from Groveton High School in 1952 as President of his class. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Keene Teachers’ College (Keene State). While there, he was manager of the basketball and baseball teams, and served two years as sports editor of the college newspaper. He received his Master’s degree in education leadership and administration from the University of Massachusetts in 1972 and his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in education administration from the University of Maine in 1985. He also did graduate work in mathematics at the University of New Hampshire. He taught mathematics at Pittsfield High School from 1956-58, and was athletic director, varsity baseball coach, and junior varsity basketball coach. He served as the town playground director for the summer of 1958. Paul joined and served with honor in the U.S. Army in 1958 and served until 1961, spending 28 months in Germany as a nuclear weapons maintenance specialist. From November 1961 to June 1962, Mr. Allen served as a math teacher at Bristol Memorial High School in Bristol, NH, where he was also the girls’ varsity basketball coach. In 1962, he became a member of the original faculty at Monadnock Regional High School as a mathematics teacher. He served as head of the math department from 1964–67. During that time, Mr. Allen served one year as President of the NH Association of Teachers of Mathematics in New England. In 1967, he was named Math Department Chairman of the new Quabbin Regional High School in Barre, Mass. After serving in that capacity for three years, he was appointed as Associate Principal, staying on for 11 more years, until 1981. He chaperoned numerous music trips that Quabbin students took throughout the eastern USA. From 1981-1986, Mr. Allen was Principal of Calais High School in Calais, Me. He attended the Maine Principals’ Academy and served on the state association curriculum committee. Mr. Allen returned to the north country of NH, serving as Superintendent of Schools for SAU 7 from 1986–99. During that time, he was President of the North Country School Administration and the North Country Education Foundation. He also was the NH representative for the Tri-State Superintendents’ Conference. He served one year on the Professional Standards Board, resigning due to illness. Prior to coming to Colebrook, Mr. Allen participated in several candlepin bowling leagues. He anchored the team which won the Keene City championship while in college, and while he was in Calais, he bowled a three-string total of 400. Mr. Allen was a former lector at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church, and he was on the Parish Council. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis, and UCVH Assembly of Overseers, and in 2000 was a consultant for NH Easter Seals. Mr. Allen also supervised student teachers for Plymouth State University. He served five years as President of the Groveton High School Alumni Association. Mr. Allen is survived by his wife of 46 years, Patricia (née Doody), and their three daughters and their spouses: Kathleen M. and Kevin Woodworth of Clinton, MD; Barbara J. and Victor Beauchemin of Hudson, NH, and Susan M. and Jason Davis of Colebrook, NH; and four grandchildren: Samantha Beauchemin (15), Lily Davis (9), Abigail Beauchemin (8), and Lindsay Davis (4). There are no public calling hours. A memorial Mass at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church, and committal service with military honors, will be held at a future date that has yet to be determined. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mr. Allen may be made to the Paul F. Allen Memorial Scholarship fund, c/o Rosemary Mulliken at the 1st Colebrook Bank, 132 Main St., Colebrook, NH 03576. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home, Colebrook, NH.

Paul F. Allen

December 23, 1933 - July 19, 2013