Richard P. Allen

Richard Paul Allen of Malden, Massachusetts, 80, a beloved and loving husband, father, and grandfather, first-born child of Mary (Durant) Allen and Everett Allen, passed away peacefully on January 11, 2025, with his family by his side. He will be forever missed.
Rich was a graduate of Malden High School, Boston State College, Northeastern University, and Simmons University. Rich valued self reliance, compassion, hard work, and life-long learning. He most enjoyed spending time with his wife and two sons. He took an active role in the lives of his sons and attended their athletic events, band competitions, awards nights, and Boy Scout activities. Rich had been a Boy Scout and was very proud when both his sons became Eagle Scouts. Rich was active in scouting and went on many scout camping trips with his sons, no matter the weather, and climbed to the peak of Mount Katahdin in Maine with them. Rich, his wife, and sons also enjoyed summer camping trips and traveled across the US, Canada, and Europe.
Rich was a teacher at Melrose High School. He taught American History, World History, and Psychology. He created "stories" for his students that caught their attention and made the subjects come alive. He was selected by the faculty of Melrose High School to receive the Harvard Book Award, an award presented to teachers who have "inspired excellence and curiosity in students". He was also honored by Tufts University as a teacher who helped students to "realize their potential, understand their capabilities, build their self-esteem, encourage their curiosity and prepare them for life-long learning." Late in his career he fulfilled a long-time goal and got a second Masters degree in Library and Information Science; he worked in the libraries of Melrose High School, Middlesex Community College, and Saugus Public Library.
Rich was a kind, soft-spoken gentleman who was an avid reader and walker. A long-time member of the Volksmarch Association, he took 10k walks on a weekly basis for many years with his brother-in-law Tom Dello Russo. He researched how to make house repairs and spent many hours remodeling his home. His interest in computers started early in his career and he was always ready to learn a new program or play a complicated game.
Rich is survived by his wife of 52 years, Angela (Dello Russo) Allen and two sons: Jack Allen (and his wife Jennifer (Brophy) Allen) and Tommy Allen; and two grandchildren Christopher and Matthew. He is also survived by his brothers Stephen, Bobby and his partner Lisa Saetti, Paul and his wife Judi, Jimmy and his wife Nancy, and his sisters Mary (Patty) and her husband Tony Scarlata, and Jeanne and her husband David Atwater; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation hours will be held at A.J. Spadafora Funeral Home, 865 Main St., Malden on January 24, 2025 from 9 to 11 am, followed by a funeral service and interment at Forestdale cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may contribute in Rich's memory to the Alzheimer's Association,