THOMAS ALLEN

ALLEN Thomas Benton Allen (Age 89) Thomas Benton Allen of Bethesda, Maryland, died on December 11, 2018 of heart failure. Tom was a loving husband to his wife Scottie (Florence MacBride), the kindest and finest father to his children, and a beloved grandfather. Tom loved to spend time with his family on Ragged Island, Maine, which he returned to annually for over thirty years. Tom attended Fairfield Prep, and graduated from Bridgeport University. While still a teenager he was a cub reporter for the Bridgeport Herald and later served in the US Navy as a journalist. He was a reporter for the New York Daily News and then an editor for Chilton Books of Philadelphia. He joined the National Geographic Society in 1965 and later became Associate Chief Editor. Tom wrote more than twenty-five books. His first book, Shadows in the Sea, was published in 1963 and his final book, 1789, will be published next year. He edited over 30 books for the National Geographic including We Americans, which sold over 1.25 million copies. He also wrote for younger readers including Mr. Lincoln's High-Tech War, co-authored with his son Roger. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Catherine and Walter, and his sisters, Mary Bertasi and Elizabeth McGrath. He is survived by his wife Scottie, his three children, Christopher, Constance, and Roger, and eight grandchildren: Aaron, Victoria, Jonathan, Benton, Meredith, Anna, Rose, and James. He is also survived by family members Edith Allen, Eleanore Fox, and James Witte. A memorial service will be held at River Road Unitarian Congregation, 6301 River Road, Bethesda, Maryland 20817 on Wednesday, December 19, 2018, at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Institute, c/o CCADW Memorial Gifts, 924 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20001.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Institute, c/o CCADW Memorial Gifts, 924 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20001.