Allen RAE

RAE, Allen
Peacefully in Ottawa, Ontario on August 20, 2016, Allen G. Rae at the age of 83. Allen was predeceased by his wife Beryl Rae (nee Bright) (2010), he is survived by his son Allan Rae (David Montgomery) of Toronto and his longtime friend Shirley Roberts of Ottawa. Allen was born on December 26, 1932 in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was a member of the R.C.M.P. (S/Sgt. Reg. #17435) from 1952 until he retired in 1972. He trained at "N" Division, served in "F" Division and later transferred to the R.C.M.P. visa control section at the Canadian Embassy in Stuttgart, West Germany, Delhi, India and Tokyo, Japan. He married Beryl in 1956. After leaving the force, Allen began working for Sport Canada in 1972, and while there received his B.A. in political science from Carleton University. He went on to become executive director of Basketball Canada until his retirement. Allen is well known in the world of sport. As the founder and past president of Sports Officials Canada, he has been a tireless advocate for the Canadian officiating community for many years. A world class basketball official, he refereed in the 1964 Olympics, 1968 Olympics, 1972 Olympics (including a semi-final game in each of those) and 1976 Olympics. He also refereed the final of the 1975 European Championship. Allen was the Technical Commissioner in the 1984 Olympics, 1988 Olympics, 1992 Olympics, 1990 World Championship and 1983 Pan American Games. From 1984 to 1994, he served as Vice-President of the technical Commission of the F.I.B.A. His many distinctions include the F.I.B.A. Order of Merit in 1997 and his induction into the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 and the city of Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. He has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Coaching Association of Canada in 2002 and the City of Ottawa Sports Awards in 2006 and 2007. A funeral service will be held in the Sacred Space of the Beechwood National Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa (East of the Vanier Parkway) on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at 11 a.m. followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Allen's memory to the Ottawa Hospital Foundation would be appreciated.