John Allen

John Robert Allen Passed peacefully into the next life on 12/2/2010. He was born on 01/16/1926 in Los Angeles, CA., the only child of Adelbert and Marguerite Furlong Allen and moved to Berkeley at a young age. He is survived by his only daughter, Melissa Allen Corcoran, her husband Brian, and their children Regan Kate Corcoran and Margaret Elizabeth Corcoran. John graduated from UC Berkeley in 1950 and remained a lifelong Bears fan. He pledged Psi Upsilon, maintaining close friendships with his fraternity brothers for 60 years. He was married for 15 years to Margaret MacAlpine Allen, whom he met at Cal. John served in World War II as a radioman on B29 bombers, then was called back up to serve again in the Korean War. When he attended the annual Danville 4th of July parade in his Superfortress cap and flight jacket, veterans of all stripes would stop the parade to salute him. John lived for 25 years with ceramicist Marilyn Levine in "The Dome" in Oakland, CA. Marilyn made a ceramic imitation of John's flight jacket so authentic looking that visitors often reached out to take it off the hook it was "hanging" on. John and Marilyn had a loving relationship that lasted until she passed away in 2005. Gramps' favorite pleasure was to share in the life of his two granddaughters who adored him in return. He loved to watch them in school plays, singing in talent shows and playing tennis for the high school team. He made sure they knew that every performance was the best that any little girl ever gave. At Diablo Lodge he was asked to serve on the Residents Council as a respected spokesman for the entire lodge. Wherever he went, people were attracted to his warm, open, honest personality. Those who knew him best described John simply as a true gentleman. His only desire was to be part of a family, and he always will be. GO BEARS!