Thomas R. Allen

Thomas Reid Allen was born at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland on September 10, 1953, the second child of Warren Collins Allen and Reid Fussell Allen. He has the unique distinction of appearing as a newborn with his mother on the cover of the Fall 1954 issue of Suburban Hospital’s Reporter Magazine published the year after his birth. He was two years old when he and his family moved from the District of Columbia to Maryland. He remained a resident of Montgomery County, Maryland, the rest of his life, attending Weller Road Elementary School, Belt Junior High School and Wheaton High School where he was a member of the Rifle Drill Team. He briefly pursued an interest in radio broadcasting before working in management positions for several businesses including Peoples Drug Stores.

His longtime interest in cars and mechanics led him and a business partner to open, Automotive Specialists Incorporated (ASI), a car repair shop in Rockville, Maryland. He enjoyed a successful business stint before closing ASI’s doors and joining several car dealerships as a sales consultant before his retirement.

His love of music inspired him to perform a variety of classic and cover songs at the piano bar in the Flaming Pit restaurant in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He was well known for crooning songs by Neil Diamond. “Sweet Caroline” was among his and his fan’s favorites.

Poetry was another area of the arts that captured Tom’s attention. He often recited favorite poems from a wide range of poets, and he periodically quoted the philosophy of Galileo including, “All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.”

Tom was in a sense a Renaissance man. Among his many interests and talents, he had a penchant for cooking -- chicken wings among his specialities, which he prepared for family gatherings, and he forever declared onion dip served with potato chips a “crowd pleaser.” He was very skilled at carpentry. He designed and installed wall-to-wall built-ins; chair rail molding; built a deck; and constructed a chest of drawers for a family member’s new home. He also had a quick wit and enjoyed telling and hearing a good joke.

Canines held a special place in Tom’s heart throughout his life. He loved his dogs beginning with his family’s dog, Nita, followed by his beloved golden retriever, Gretchen, and rescue dogs, Maxwell, Starbuck and Rocky.

One of his friends reflected, “I remember Tom as a vibrant young man, handsome, debonair and full of life, that’s how I want to remember him.”

He was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his sister, Sharon Allen Gilder (Mark); one niece, Jacqueline Gilder Brentzel (Nate); three great-nephews, and numerous relatives and friends.