Richard W. Allen of Speonk Dies January 20 - 27 East

Richard W. Allen of Speonk Dies January 20

icon 1 Photo
Richard W. Allen

Richard W. Allen

authorStaff Writer on Jan 23, 2023

Richard W. Allen of Speonk died on January 20. He was 85.

He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, the oldest of three children born to his parents, the late Ruth and Warren Allen of Rumford, Rhode Island. His sister Joan resides in Virginia and he is predeceased by his younger brother Ernie.

He served in the United States Coast Guard, starting in Groton, Connecticut, then at sea, and later stationed at the East Moriches Coast Guard Station. He specialized in communications as a radioman. While serving in East Moriches, he met Barbara Ann Roschlau.

After serving his four years active duty in the Coast Guard and an additional two years in reserve, the couple married and started a family raising their daughter, Lori. He then began his 36 years of employment at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, retiring in 1998.

It was in 1969 that he was elected to membership in the Eastport Fire Department, volunteering for 53 years until his death. He served as the district secretary for the most recent 19 years. During his time of service and commitment, he had also served as the secretary of the fire department, as a captain of the fire police, and most reverently as a charter officer of the Benevolent Association.

He was predeceased by his wife, Barbara, in 2000. He is survived by his daughter and her husband Ed Hamor; his grandson Russell Utter and wife Spencer; and his granddaughter Emily Utter. He was their beloved “PopPop.”

A wake will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Werner Rothwell Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach on Thursday, January 26. Eastport Fire Department Firematic Service and USCG Funeral Honors will begin at 7 p.m. There will be a church service at the red brick Remsenburg Community Church on Friday, January 27, at 11a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Eastport Fire Department (eastportfd.org) would be most appreciated by the family.

You May Also Like:

The Retreat Calls Attention to Human Trafficking in Light of Alexander Brothers Indictment

The Retreat, an East Hampton-based nonprofit agency that provides services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and offers violence prevention community education, is calling attention to sex trafficking and sexual assault on the South Fork in light of the recent indictment of the Alexander brothers. Oren and Tal Alexander, who were luxury real estate brokers in Miami, New York and the Hamptons, and their brother Alon were arrested in December on federal charges of sex trafficking. Authorities described a pattern of sexual abuse spanning more than a decade in which they allegedly lured woman through “deception, fraud and ... 20 Dec 2024 by Staff Writer

Let It Play Out

My response, Harry Mainzer, to your argument that Pete Hegseth is unqualified for nomination and confirmation as secretary of defense is: Let the process play out [“Kakistocracy,” Letters, December 19]. My disagreement with you is primarily with the faceless, anonymous sources that have been used to contaminate the fairness of this nomination. For Donald Trump supporters, it is all too reminiscent of the innuendo, lies and outright subterfuge of the initial Trump presidency by a Democratic Party and its complicit media, which abandoned its journalistic responsibilities to amplify doubt and falsehoods. It is clear that you don’t see it from ... by Staff Writer

Reap Joy

I immersed myself in the Hamptons Doc Fest this December, both as a volunteer and a filmgoer. I hadn’t attended more than a handful of films over the festival’s history, now in its 17th year; however, my recent involvement electrified me with the intoxicating breadth and vitality of this magnificent event! From founder Jacqui Lofaro and her mainstay of directors, to its staff and boards, to its sponsors and patrons, the Hamptons Doc Fest is a hard-driving jubilee rivaling any international film festival. I read a quote that film festivals are “niche businesses.” Upon offering my aid shortly after eye ... by Staff Writer

Unprofessional Tirade

In Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” Queen Gertrude famously observes, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks,” suggesting that overly forceful denials often reveal a lack of sincerity. This sentiment captures the debacle at the December 12 Southampton Village Board meeting, where Trustee Robin Brown, without being listed on the agenda, commandeered the public’s time with an unprofessional tirade [“Trustee Robin Brown Takes Southampton Village Ethics Board to Task at Meeting,” 27east.com, December 18]. At approximately the 1:05:34 mark, Brown, encouraged by Mayor Bill Manger, interrupted the meeting to launch a seven-minute, misguided attack on the Village Ethics Board, which had found her ... by Staff Writer

Town Accepting Waitlist Applications for Boat Slips

The Southampton Town Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting waitlist lottery applications for slips at Bay Avenue Marina, Beaver Dam Marina, Bishop’s Marina, Conscience Point Marina and Pine Neck Marine Preserve, for the 2025 boating season. Town of Southampton residents or taxpayers who own vessels 45 feet in length or less for Conscience Point Marina, 30 feet in length or less for Pine Neck Marine Preserve and 25 feet in length or less for Bay Avenue Marina, Beaver Dam Marina or Bishop’s Marina may obtain applications by emailing the parks maintenance office at egeorge@southamptontownny.gov or by visiting the town’s ... by Staff Writer

Southampton Village Board Hears Update to Resort Hotel Plans, Adds Clarification to Leaf Blower Ban

During a public hearing at the latest Southampton Village Board meeting on December 12, representatives for Dede Gotthelf, the owner of 71 Hill Street, presented updated and revised plans for a resort hotel that will include several units of workforce housing. The primary feature of the latest revision is the elimination of plans for an indoor pool, which will have the effect of decreasing the overall width of the building and will allow for more green space on the property. The plan will now include an outdoor pool instead. The changes mean the building will now only cover 50 percent ... by Cailin Riley

Southampton DWI Arrests for the Week of December 19

Miguel Lopez Reynoso, 32, of Westhampton Beach was arrested by Westhampton Beach Police on December 11, at 11:23 p.m., and charged with DWI, a misdemeanor. Lopez Reynoso was pulled over at Peters Lane after being observed following too closely behind another vehicle while driving on Montauk Highway, said police. Police said he told them he had only one beer before driving but performed poorly on a field sobriety test. A breath test came up with a reading of 0.13 percent. An investigation revealed that Lopez Reynoso had a prior DWI conviction in April 2023. He was transported to Southampton Town ... 19 Dec 2024 by Staff Writer

Southampton Police Reports for the Week of December 19

WESTHAMPTON BEACH — On December 11 at 5:17 a.m., a 36-year-old Philadelphia man was cited for leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, a violation, after a Westhampton Beach Village Police officer said police observed a downed street sign and then reviewed village cameras, which showed the man had collided with a yield sign at Potunk Lane and Main Street a day earlier. The man stated to police that he was driving an oversized vehicle and was unaware that he had run over the sign. WESTHAMPTON BEACH — On December 11 at 4:49 p.m. Westhampton Beach Village Police ... by Staff Writer

Swords Into Plowshares

It isn’t the first potato truck I learned to drive, but it’s the same kind, a retrofitted army truck, rugged and simple in accord with its unstoppable American design. When the engine cranks and comes to life — as it has for 50 years, and will for 50 more — patriotic old men, many of them farmers, know to thank Detroit. But we’ve sold her. We’re thinning the fleet. A farm in Vermont wants this one. Almost all of our harvest trucks have a military surplus pedigree. With this pedigree comes a year. One of the oldest trucks, one we ... by Marilee Foster

Craig Kruzel of Southampton Dies December 4

Craig Kruzel, a lifelong resident of Southampton, died peacefully in his home on December 4. He was 70. Born April 11, 1954, he was predeceased by his parents, Albert and Stella Kruzel. He is survived by his wife, Sheila; daughter Elyse; sisters Connie and Missy; and niece Emilie and nephew Andrew; as well as their families. A memorial will be held in the spring. by Staff Writer