Retired Tewksbury Fire Department Lieutenant

TEWKSBURY

Allen J. Hancock, age 82, a resident of Tewksbury for 60 years, passed away at home Saturday, January 16, 2021.

He was the beloved husband of Ann E. Hancock, with whom he celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on September 9, 2020.

Born in Boston, MA on August 25, 1938, he was the oldest of 4 children of the late Tex D. Hancock & the late Christine M. "Tina" (MacLeod) Hancock.

Allen was raised in Wilmington MA, attended Wilmington public elementary schools, and graduated from Essex Agricultural High School in Danvers. He later earned an Associate Degree in Fire Science at a local community college.

Since their wedding, Allen and Ann have resided in Tewksbury, where they raised their 5 children.

He was an Army Veteran, and was honorably discharged on August 3, 1963.

Allen was a retired Tewksbury Fire Fighter, LT – a job that he loved. He started out as a call firefighter in Tewksbury before joining the department full time. He was a member of the department's scuba team as well. While on the department, he was bestowed the 1977 Tewksbury Distinguished Firefighter Award and the 1978 Tewksbury Firefighter of the Year Award. After retiring from the Tewksbury Fire Dept, he worked part time as a home inspector and insurance adjuster.

He aided in fundraising for MDA for years, including helping with the local MDA telethons. He also built handicap ramps and constructed dunk tanks for the various fundraising events for MDA and other charities as requested. He liked rallying the crowds in his fundraising efforts even raising money by auctioning the ability to shave his head, handle-bar mustache and beard.

Allen was a member of Tewksbury Senior Men's Group; member of ACTS, and an Oblate Associate at his parish, St. Williams.

He looked forward to his monthly dinners and seasonal trips with long-time friends Betty & John Duffill & Lorraine & John Wilson as well as retirees' outings with fellow fire fighters, including his regular get togethers with Richard Gath and James Farley.

Allen will be remembered for his love for his family and his friends, and his time spent with them, his love of laughter, as well as his love for travel, camping, wood working & crafts, and helping anyone in need. He was always quick with a joke, long with a story and a smile for both.

The Hancock family would like to thank, Ana Maria Guzman, Tania Guzman, Valerie Larose, Miriam Roche, Kelmy Espinal, and the nurses and aids with Hospice of Massachusetts, especially Nancy McMahon, RN, who all lovingly cared for Al.

He is survived by his wife, Ann E. (McGunigle) Hancock of Tewksbury; children, Maureen A. Hancock of Tewksbury, Christine A. (Hancock) Donovan and her husband Joseph of Tyngsboro, Shawn A. Hancock and his wife Alison (Small) of Tewksbury, and Timothy P. Hancock and his wife Mary Martha (O'Donnell) of Methuen; his son-in-law, Michael L. Wood of New London, NH, who was the husband of his late daughter, Charlene A. (Hancock) Wood; six grandchildren, Thomas and Ian Wood, Hannah and Brennan Hancock, Cieran and Declan Hancock; his sister, Joanna Flashman of Florida; his brother, Francis Hancock and his wife Marsha of Nebraska; his brothers and sisters in-law, Bernard Nally of Wilmington, Claire (McGunigle) Denahey of Hampstead, NH, and Robert Shone of Lynnfield; also many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Allen was the father of the late Charlene A. (Hancock) Wood, brother of the late Texann Nally, and brother-in-law of the late Mary (McGunigle) Shone and Joseph Denahey

Due to the pandemic, services for Al will be private.

Donations honoring his memory may be made to Autism Speaks or the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

Arrangements entrusted to Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, Tewksbury. www.farmeranddee.com

View the online memorial for Allen J. Hancock