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Gerald Allen Obituary

Gerald Pitman Allen SPRING LAKE - Gerald Pitman Allen, 73, of Spring Lake, NC, died on Sunday, November 1, 2015, from heart failure. Born and raised in Lumberton, NC, Mr. Allen attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA, and Yale University. After studying English at Cambridge University in England and returning to Yale to study architecture, he worked in New York for Philip Johnson and Architectural Record before starting his own firm, Gerald Allen & Associates. Mr. Allen's architectural career spanned a broad scope of work. He wrote several books with Charles Moore and taught in various universities, including Yale, Harvard, North Carolina State University, and Carnegie Mellon. He also designed sets for the Santa Fe Opera. In 1982, he and Kent Bloomer designed the lights currently in Central Park, and he designed the restoration of the Bethesda Fountain, both projects as part of an effort to revitalize the park. Later in his career, his work focused on church design and renovation and included projects in Manhattan at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, the Church of the Heavenly Rest, and Riverside Church, as well as projects in Larchmont and Oyster Bay and Wilson, NC. Mr. Allen returned to his native North Carolina in 2015. Mr. Allen is survived by his sister, Alice Allen Smyth, a niece and two nephews, a network of extended family and friends, and his beloved dog, Agnes.

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Published by Charlotte Observer on Nov. 15, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Gerald Allen

15 Entries

Gloria Riggsbee

January 2, 2025

Gerald was a fine Boss and friend, he hired me to live on Thorbiskcope for security of his home and property for 14 years. I fell in love with Thorbiskope, that long staircase made me think of Gone With The Wind and the Southern ladies dressed in those big hoop dresses and large brim hats with feathers and flowers. Each year Gerald asked me to take on caring for the 3 acre yard and helping keep the kitchen house cleaned and setting up the property so he could hold business meetings for his and Jeff's Architecture business in New York. I have just learned about Gerald's passing and am heart broken. To his sister and family, Gerald was a great man and best boss ever. The last time I saw and talked to Gerald was when he had a heart attack and was trying to recoup. God knew that Gerald was getting tired so God took Gerald through those Golden Gates for his final resting place. To the family of Gerald, I am so sorry for this temporary separation from Gerald however we all will be with him in God's kingdom. God Bless you all. Gerald was like my Big Brother, always looking out for each other.

George Ranalli

April 22, 2024

I am very sad to learn of the passing of Gerald Allen an architect and teacher who I knew in New York for many years. Gerald was a consummate professional and scholar. His interest in the continuation of a dialogue with history informed all his work and his restoration of the wonderful Bethesda Fountain in Central Park started a transformation of the park over many years. His work on the Central Park lights with my other colleague Kent Bloomer restored a period type lighting to the park with sculptural brilliance. We will not forget Gerald's brilliance as an architect, his architectural scholarship and his effort to be a wonderful colleague.

NORWOOD B MADDRY

November 14, 2022

The Allen family was very kind to me as a child. Gerald was a very early friend and going thru High School Alice was of real help from time to time. As I have said, Gerald made the world a little better, so did Alice and her wonderful mother.

John Sheehan

August 8, 2021

I met Gerald in 1978 through a Yale classmate and he told me of his interest in theatre and opera. I invited him to design my production of Joe Orton's Funeral Games, Off-Broadway in March of 1979. He did an outstanding job with simple but brilliantly effective modules that reconfigured for the different settings. It was a collaboration that we both enjoyed enormously and we remained friends throughout the years after. He was a gentleman and a scholar and I will miss his charming company.

Clete Davis

March 29, 2019

Gerald was a close friend and colleague of mine. We worked on several projects together over the years. A brilliant architect! I designed the HVAC system for his home at Thorbiskope. His passing is a great loss to all who knew him! My profound condolences to all of his family!

Bill Drennen

May 21, 2016

Sorry I never got to know him better through EHS and classmate at Yale, but he was quiet and so was I. Strange he studied and then practiced architecture, I studied but never practiced. Drawing classes together.

Brian Jones

January 15, 2016

Dear Alice,
I had suspected that Gerald had died, and had a difficult time digging out his obit on the net, I think because I feared what I ultimately found.
My deepest condolences to you and your family. I'm in NYC today, and made the pilgrimage to 25 E. 94th, and then entered his name to find this sad truth
He was a fine, accomplished, generous man.
My best to you,
Brian Jones
www.brianjonesmusic.com

November 25, 2015

I am sorry to hear this. I met Gerald in Saybrook College at Yale in 1961. He was one of the first people from the south I'd met. I enjoyed talking with him very much. For a while I think he was building a harpsichord in his room.

Anthony Lavely

November 23, 2015

On behalf of my classmates in the Yale Class of 1964, I extend condolences to Gerald's family and friends. Gerald had many friends in our Class and will be missed. We mourn his passing and will remember him on our Class Website (www.yale64.org), in the March-April 2016 issue of Yale Alumni Magazine, and at a memorial service on campus during our 55th reunion in May 2019. Anthony M. Lavely, Class Secretary

Peter Shaw

November 17, 2015

Gerald and I became friends when he was at Cambridge. He provided the introduction that took me to America in the '60s - a pivotal event in my life. He was a good friend, a person of great gifts, and an entertaining if sometimes challenging presence in any company. My warmest sympathies to you, Alice. I shall miss him.

Fred Lennon

November 15, 2015

Gerald grew up living on the street behind me and he was several years older. He was nice to me when I was small. Sorry to hear of his passing.

Dan Floyd

November 15, 2015

Was in school through 9th grade with his sister Alice. Knew Gerald and his family all through school. When he was at EHS in Alexandria I was at VES in Lynchburg. Remember the death of his dad Pitt Allen while he was visiting Gerald in Va. I am saddened by his death and thinking of Alice.

Norwood Maddry

November 15, 2015

Gerald was one of my earliest childhood friends. He was a brilliant person and the world is a little brighter because of him.

November 15, 2015

Alice, Linda and I would like to express our sincere condolences to you at the loss of your brother. It is always very hard to lose anyone but particlularilly hard to lose a sibling. May our Lord be with you and comfort you and your family.
Jerry and Linda Wilson
Clemmons, NC

Catherine Bishir

November 15, 2015

A brilliant mind, a generous soul. I was one of many people who had the good fortune to enjoy his company. RIP

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