Allan Leonard McLennon

Allan Leonard McLennon was born on February 1, 1928, in Springfield, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. He was the second of eleven children of Aaron and Ellen McLennon. He attended Springfield’s All Age school, and in 1952, at the age of 24, he migrated to the United States to join his aunts in the Bronx.

A few years later, Allan joined the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey. In 1954, he was deployed to Germany as a Communications Specialist. While there, his life changed forever. At a wine bar, he met Lieselotte Lamsbach, a talented floral designer who quickly became the love of his life. Allan and “Lelot,” as she was affectionately called, were married on August 15, 1958, in Germany. Soon after, they returned to New York and built their life together in Cambria Heights, where they lived for more than 30 years.

Allan was kind, generous, and deeply devoted to family. Together, he and his wife played an important role in helping many of his siblings and their families immigrate to the United States. Their home was often the first stop, a place of warmth and support as others got settled. Allan also brought his mother to live with them after his father’s passing in 1971, further strengthening the family’s roots in America.

One of Allan’s proudest traditions was hosting his famous Christmas parties. Every year, the basement of their home was transformed into a festive space filled with food, music, laughter, and love. These gatherings became the heartbeat of the McLennon family, creating memories that spanned generations.

Allan worked long hours to provide for his family. He spent years at a coffee factory in Brooklyn before joining the Federal Government as a mail carrier, a position he held until retirement. He also supported his wife’s restaurant business, showing the same dedication to her dreams as he did to his own.

In the early 2000s, after losing both his mother and beloved wife, Allan moved to Plantation, Florida, where much of the family had already settled. Just as he once welcomed others, his family now welcomed him. For the next 20 years, Allan devoted himself to family life — celebrating birthdays, graduations, and holidays, sharing a Red Stripe and memories with his brother Roy, and enjoying dinners with his sister Rose and her family. He took pride in watching nieces, nephews, and even grandnieces and grandnephews grow. His later years were filled with love, connection, and peace.

Allan is survived by his brother Douglas, his sisters Helen and Rose, and many nieces and nephews. He leaves behind a legacy of love, generosity, and family that will live on in all of us.