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1944 - 2012

BORN

1944

DIED

2012

About

Palo Alto High School Golden Gate University

Dot Allen Obituary

Dot Allen
Sept. 15, 1944 - Sept. 20, 2012
Resident of Los Altos Hills
Dorothy (Dot) Soares Allen died peacefully at her home after a courageous battle with liver disease. Born in Palo Alto to Ed and Peg Soares on September 15, 1944, Dot lived and studied in Germany, Switzerland and France during her childhood. She graduated from Palo Alto High School in 1961 and attended Stanford, where she majored in Hispanic American Studies and French, graduating magna cum laude and being elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After receiving her undergraduate degree, she continued in graduate school at Stanford, receiving a Master's Degree from the Stanford School of Education.
Following her marriage to Robert D. (Bob) Allen on October 7, 1966, whom she met at Stanford, Dot taught high school in Southern California and Milpitas. She also lived in Huntsville, Alabama, during Bob's military service, as well as Zurich, Switzerland, where Bob worked for General Electric and Dot taught at Berlitz Language School. Upon returning to California, she began a 35-year career in market research and management consulting, working for a number of Silicon Valley companies including SRI International, Technology Decisions, Versatec, Sun Microsystems, and Institute for the Future. In her final position, she served as Vice President of Consulting at International Data Corporation.
While working and raising two children, Jennifer (b. 1972) and Joshua (b. 1975), she earned an MBA in Marketing at Golden Gate University, where she was nominated Outstanding Student in Marketing and was offered an Adjunct Professorship. She taught part-time at Golden Gate from 1987 through 1998 and was honored several terms as Outstanding Marketing Professor.
Dot had many interests and tirelessly pursued them. Her passion for education led her to involvement in the Los Altos Educational Foundation and classroom volunteer work. Also of special importance in her life was her love of travel. She and Bob visited many countries in Europe, Asia, and the Americas and always brought back unique, memorable gifts for their friends. Until the very last, when her illness precluded further travel, she was planning their next trip, which would have been to her beloved France.
Another of Dot's interests, and a unique skill, was her ability to make and nurture friendships wherever she was and whatever she was doing - at school, at work, when living abroad - everywhere that her life path took her. She made a special effort to continually reconnect with individuals and groups that were part of her life, and to keep them connected with each other, often through dinners and events hosted at the Allen home.
Dot is survived by her husband, Bob, and their children, Jennifer Fritz (Andy) and Joshua. A celebration of her life is pending. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on Sep. 27, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Dot Allen

Sponsored by anonymous.

13 Entries

Carole TREMBLAY

September 22, 2025

Especially at this time when our Stanford classmates are celebrating our 60th year of graduation, I remember Dot for our friendship begun at Stanford in France V. That friendship deepened for me and Rodrigue with many visits to Dot and Bob in California and visits from Dot and Bob at our home in Québec.
Our heartfelt greetings to Jen and Josh.
Carole and Rodrigue Tremblay

Jennifer Seguin

February 13, 2013

I am so sad to learn of Dot's passing. Dot and I worked closely at IDC, and I enjoyed working with her tremendously. She became much more than a coworker and her friendship was treasured. I will remember as a dear friend, and a talented and bright woman - an inspiration!

Shannon and David Watson

October 18, 2012

Dear Allen,

Josh, have our deepest sympathy on the death of your mom. I know how important she was to you and your care and support during these last few weeks must have brought her great comfort. You both are lucky to have each other and I am sure your relationship with your mom was quite special and while this makes the loss so very painful, I do believe that your closeness and warm memories will bring you comfort. Know that we will be thinking of you and your mom. Sorry and take care.

Dan Rubin

October 5, 2012

Bob and family,

I was saddened to learn of Dot's illness and then of her passing. I worked with her at SRI and a time or two after that, recently re-connecting on LinkedIn. My indelible memory of Dot is as a gourmet and “proto-foodie.” On a 1983 visit we made to Cornell in Ithaca, she made a special effort to arrange for us to eat at a legendary restaurant in the area. She organized group dinners at Emile's in San Jose and Mustards Grill in St. Helena in that same time frame – well before the food scene changed dramatically. I also remember the gatherings she organized at your home, in particular a “Bad Taste” party. As a co-worker, she was smart, insightful and very even-keeled. A delightful person.

Carole (Howard) and Rodrigue Tremblay

September 29, 2012

Dear Bob and family,

We were shocked and very saddened by the death of our dear friend Dot. Please accept our heartfelt and deepest sympathies. When we stayed with you last June, it didn't cross our mind that we would be seeing Dot for the last time. Carole is grateful that she spoke to Dot on the phone as recently as early September.
Dot was a wonderful person. She was so warm and hospitable. We will deeply miss her.
She was bright, cultivated, generous, and open to discussing any subject. She brought her intelligence and experience to all of our conversations. Despite the distances separating us, Dot was the soul of our connection to Stanford friends. And we are sure that she had many other networks of friends who will also intensely regret her loss.
We cherish fifty years of friendship and shared memories. We will miss her deeply.

September 28, 2012

Dear Bob & Family,
It is with great sorrow that we acknowledge Dot's passing. She was a great gal and a good friend. In deepest Sympathy,
Ellen & Gary

Arrah Jane Hill

September 28, 2012

Dear Bob, I was so very sorry to hear of Dot's passing..It was indeed a shock..So many wonderful memories of our stay in Zurich and the great times our GE group had... Arrah Jane Hill

Lexy Martin

September 28, 2012

Dear Bob and family,
Dot and I worked at SRI in the early 80s. Then as always, she had the utmost integrity and intelligence about work and life. I admired her tremendously, loved the cards, loved her get togethers (bringing old friends and colleagues together), her quirky parties, and her love of collecting. Running into you two serendipitously in an obscure town in France is something Major and I still laugh about. We will always cherish our memories of her and miss her.

Lilly & Ken LIm

September 27, 2012

Dear Bob, Jen, Joshua & Family,

My sister just alerted me to read the San Jose Mercury News' obituary tonight. We are so sad and surprised about Dot's passing. Like your other friends' comments, we did not know that Dot was not well and always look forward to your fun X'Mas letter every year to get updated on your exciting travels and family activities. We miss Dot's parents, Peg & Ed. Now, we'll miss Dot too. Like her parents, Dot was always so bright, cheerful and informative. Hope to continue keep in touch with you & family. With deep sympathy, Lilly, Ken & Jeremy Lim, also Alisa, Joe & baby Asher Dolby

Joan Young

September 27, 2012

Dear Bob and Family,

Dot and I worked together first at Versatec/XES and then at IDC until she retired. We not only were coworkers, but became friends. I will miss her positive attitude and cheerful personality. I'm so glad that I was able to be a part of her life.

Her spirit will live on in our hearts.

September 27, 2012

Dear Bob & Family, I just rec'd a call from the Shen's about Dot. I truly feel so sad & am shocked over her passing, as I did not know she was ill. We always looked forward to your Xmas letters; & will always remember the great times we had with you in Zurich. Dot was always full of information on any subject & lots of ambition. We plan to travel down to her service if it is the first week in Oct;we have paid travel plans the rest of October. My love to you, Bob & your family. Please continue to keep in touch with us. Marilee & Tony Rossetta

Anna Lindblad

September 26, 2012

What a beautiful write up of a beautiful lady.

I had the pleasure of working with Dot at IDC for a couple of years. I remember we did a show in Cali. and Dot and Bob opened their home to all of us working the show. They both were so accommodating and made everyone feel comfortable. We all had great food, great fun and created some great memories.

May her spirit live on.

Sincerely,

David Patton

September 25, 2012

I had the pleasure of working with Dot for five years at IDC. Her intelligence and professionalism were always accompanied by her friendlliness and words of encouragement. My condolences to her family. She was a wonderful person.

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