Archibald John Allen III

1942 - 2017

Archibald John Allen III

Age: 74 • Grand Isle

Having reached a truce with his myelofibrosis, Archie died peacefully on February 9, 2017. Arch was born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 28, 1942, lived his early childhood in Shaker Heights, and moved with his family to Chappaqua, New York in 1955. There he met his best friend, life-long partner, and future wife, Betty.

After graduating from Williams College in 1964, he and Betty were married and they moved to New York City where he attended graduate school. He joined IBM in 1967, working first in Fishkill, New York, and then from 1969 to 2013 in Burlington, Vermont. During his 46 years at IBM he held a variety of roles including as a manufacturing process characterization engineer, process liaison, SRAM memory designer, yield optimization consultant, design rule checking programmer, and overall problem solver. Archie claimed that working for IBM was "more interesting than doing the New York Times puzzles every day."

Arch had vast curiosity and willingness to explore. He, Betty, and their children lived for three and a half years in Germany and France where Archie increased his fluency in German and French and learned to speak passable Italian. Their travels took them to the all of the European countries, England, Scotland, Egypt, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Tanzania, Peru, the Galapagos, Costa Rica, Canada, and each of the United States. Archie loved to sail on the Oberon in the Mediterranean Sea; on the Osprey on Lake Champlain; and on the little Red-haired Menelaus on Crystal Lake in Michigan. Arch was passionate about food. He loved to cook and his family and friends loved to eat. He made several wedding cakes and many birthday cakes (or sometimes chocolate mousse, snickerdoodles, or fruit tarts at the request of the birthday child). Most of all he loved to visit local markets and to try new foods - from Australian Witchetty grubs and fried ants; to elegant five course meals at 3 star Michelin restaurants. His exploration led him to create a beautiful meal each day whether he was serving two or twenty. He produced the Allen Family Cookbook so that he might pass on some of his favorite dishes. Archie was eclectic in his music taste enjoying traditional music of many countries, American folk music and the blues. He asked that Doc Watson's "Don't You Monkey with My Widder When I'm Gone" be played in his memory. Archie was a Renaissance Man. He designed and made a tent for four and configured his van with a bed, table, chairs and ice box for family travels. Arch taught himself to make beautiful stained glass work; he created built-in book shelves, a custom made sofa for our den; he made a doll house and other toys for the children. He could fix anything. Archie did the New York Times crosswords and each day read the Washington Post, the New York Times, and the New Yorker magazine cover to cover until two days before he died. He loved to have conversations with grandchildren, children, and friends about anything and everything… politics, space, time, and the stars were favorite topics.

Arch will be missed by his wife and best friend, Betty; his sons Tim and Rob; his daughter Abigail Laniel; his daughter-in-law Katrina; his son-in-law Brian Laniel; his grandchildren Catherine, William, Margaret, Patrick, Peter, Jasmine, and Charlotte; his sister Susan Allen; and his very special friends Sarah Cummer and Poppy Cunningham who have been a great support in this journey. He also asked that we give special thanks to Dr. Chris Holmes and Joann Nielson of the UVM Hematology/Oncology Department who have made this crossing with us.

Arch asks that those who can give blood or platelets to help others who will make this voyage. There will be a celebration of Archie's life in March.

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