Allen Sheldon Plotkin

KINGSTON — On the morning of Dec. 3, 2014, Allen Plotkin, of Kingston, passed away after a brief illness at the Sacred Heart Hospice in Scranton. Allen was 82 years old.

He was born in Scranton on July 20, 1932, the second child and first son of Joseph and Tillie Arenberg Plotkin.

Allen graduated from Scranton Central High School and received a bachelor's degree in commerce and finance at Penn State. He joined the family business, Arenberg Plotkin Shoes, and subsequently returned to the University of Scranton, securing a Master's of Science in educational psychology.

He was a clinical development coordinator of advanced psychological and counseling services at Farview State Hospital and applied his practice as staff psychologist and development director for more than 30 years at Community Counseling Services of NEPA.

Allen served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and received an honorable discharge. In the 1960s, he was active in Debra Records in promotion and recordings with such groups as The Magics, The Gales and Tommy Genova.

He was a patron of the arts, frequenting Broadway stage plays in New York and was an avid bridge player.

Allen was a member of the American Psychological Association and Pennsylvania Psychological Association, and certified in geriatric assessment, custody mediation and family therapy. Clinical specialties included premarital, marital and family therapy, individual psychotherapy, divorce/custody mediation, psychological testing, diagnostic testing/evaluations and custody evaluations.

He was a member of Temple Israel, Wilkes Barre.

Allen is survived by a daughter, Lisa Allen, Phoenix; his wife of 39 years, Jule, Kingston; sister, Adele Pollack; brother Richard Plotkin, Scranton; many nieces and nephews; and the rest of his family and friends.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the Carlucci-Golden-DeSantis Funeral Home Inc., 318 E. Drinker St., Dunmore. Rabbi Moshe Saks of Temple Israel will officiate. Interment will take place in the Dalton Jewish Cemetery. Shiva will be observed from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday at the home of Adele Pollack, 827 Clay Ave., Scranton.