Dr. Allen R Koenig

Koenig, Allen Russell, M.D. of Cos Cob, CT died on November 29 at the age of 82. Born in Brooklyn, NY he was the son of the late Christian Allen Koenig and Florence Wells Koenig. A town resident for over 50 years, he is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lora, of 55 years and his sister Marion Koenig Scharfenstein.

Allen was educated in Brooklyn public schools and excelled in baseball, basketball and student government. He was graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1951, a Bachelor of Science in Medicine in 1955 and a Doctor of Medicine in 1958. He interned at Greenwich Hospital in CT and completed his residency at Dartmouth College (Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital) in Hanover, NH where he was Chief Resident in Anesthesiology.

A patriotic veteran, he served in the Strategic Air Command of the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1953 as a First Lieutenant. He was administrative Aide to General Frank Armstrong and Assistant Adjutant General of the Sixth Air Division (Strategic Air Command B-29 and B-52). He was awarded the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and Syngman Rhee Presidential Citation for his service in the Korean Conflict.

Allen served on staff at Greenwich (CT) Hospital as Senior Attending Anesthesiologist and Critical Care Physician from 1961 to 1973 and 1974 to 1976. Leaving practice, he became Associate Medical Director at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Director of Professional Services at Ayerst Laboratories, and Advisor of Medical Affairs at American Home Products Law Department in New York City. He retired in 1990. Allen was a member of Phi Gamma Delta, Alpha Epsilon Delta (honorary pre-medical) and Phi Chi (medical) fraternities. He was a member of Fairfield County (CT) Medical Association, Connecticut State Medical Society, American Medical Association, Connecticut State Society of Anesthesiologists, American Society of Anesthesiologists, International Anesthesia Research Society and the New England Society of Anesthesiologists. Allen was a delegate to the Connecticut State Medical Society, a member of the Fairfield County Malpractice Review Board, a member of the Representative Town Meeting of Greenwich, CT, the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich, the Retired Men's Association and Greenwich Rotary.

Generous, wise, interested in people, and focused on family, Allen was a gregarious soul. Extended family and friends were always welcomed for holidays and birthdays. He and his wife, Lora, hosted Christmas day gatherings at their home for more than fifty years. A member of The Milbrook Club for 42 years, he enjoyed golf, dinner dances, and dining on the patio.

His greatest love was his wife, Lora. His greatest riches were family, conversation, laughter and reading. Al touched many lives and was regarded as someone who made others feel special. He was known for his sense of humor, compassion and warmth.

Allen is survived by daughter Lora Koenig Robins and husband Ronald of Chappaqua, NY, Robert Wells Koenig and wife Karen of East Boxford, MA, Kathryn Leigh Cavadi and husband Richard of Fairfield, CT, and Allison Lila Mieloch and husband Joseph of Phoenixville, PA. He has eight grandchildren: Benjamin and William Robins, Hannah and Ellis Koenig, Kyle Cavadi, and Asher, David and Christopher Mieloch.

Allen also helped to raise his beloved nieces: Jean Scharfenstein Davis of Old Greenwich, CT, Susan Scharfenstein Speers (husband Steve) of Elmhurst, IL, and Anne Scharfenstein Cooksey (husband John) of Hot Springs, AK. He often commented on how they enriched his life. Their children include dear Marcia Davis (and her son Ned) of Old Greenwich, CT, Tom, Stephanie, and Michael Speers, and Benjamin and Daniel Cooksey.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 9th at 2pm at First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich, One West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in memory of Allen R. Koenig to Meals-on-Wheels, Inc. of Greenwich, 89 Maple Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 or to Smile Train via the Allen R. Koenig Memorial Fund, PO Box 96231, Washington, DC 20090-6321.

Websites: http://www.mealsonwheelsofgreenwich.org/contribute.html or http://support.smiletrain.org/site/TR?pxfid=10240&pg=fund&fr_id=1030