Eve E. Allison

Eve E. Allison passed away peacefully on February 1, 2026 with her signature red bow in her hair and her favorite stuffed animals, after a brief illness. Throughout her life Eve was many things, among them an artist, businesswoman, mother, singer, sailor, showrunner, and philanthropist. Eve is survived by her sister, Sarah Punderson, her son Thomas K. Allison III, daughter-in-law Cassandra Allison, and her grandchildren Isaac and Audrey Allison.

Eve was born Sept. 17, 1943 in Trenton NJ, the first daughter of Jack and Virginia (Ginny) English. Ginny’s aspirations to be an actress meant Eve spent a lot of her early childhood with her father and her grandparents. Eve made some appearances on Ginny’s television show in Philadelphia, modelling clothes sold by the show’s sponsor, Gimbal’s department store. At 9 ½ years old, she became big sister to twins, Alice and Sarah. Eve attended Solebury boarding school in New Hope, PA, and spent summers in Island Heights, NJ, where she was involved in the Junior Sailing Program. Throughout this period, Eve showed a passion for theatrical performance and costume which she would continue throughout her life. She participated in drama productions at Solebury and directed many of the Junior Cabarets at the Island Heights Yacht Club, hand sewing costumes for both.

After high school, Eve majored in Art History at Drew University, in Madison, NJ and held a variety of jobs involving fashion and art. She managed the fashion fabrics department at Lit Brothers, in Trenton. As a cartographer’s aid for Aero Services in Philadelphia, working from photographs of the moon’s surface Eve drew maps for the Apollo program moon landings.

In 1967, Eve married the love of her life, Thomas K. Allison Jr. (Tom). Eve and Tom met at the Island Heights Yacht Club (IHYC). After graduating from Cornell University, Tom got a job at the Newport News Shipyard working on the Nimitz class aircraft carriers, and the couple moved to Virginia. While in Newport News, Eve worked as a substitute teacher, taught fashion merchandising classes at the College of Hampton Roads, and volunteered for the Virginia Association for Planned Parenthood. When the Vietnam war ended, Eve and Tom moved back to New Jersey. Eve landed a job working in the rare book department of Sotheby’s auction house in New York, which she would recall fondly. Eve and Tom enjoyed racing a Hobie 16 Catamaran on Barnegat Bay in the summers.

In 1979, Thomas K. Allison Sr. passed away and Tom Jr. and Eve took over the business founded by Tom Sr., Allison Systems Corporation, a supplier to the printing industry. Together they took Allison Systems out of the garage and into a new space in Riverside, NJ, growing the business substantially throughout the 80’s and 90’s. Eve took responsibility for inventory and purchasing of specialty steels, plastics, and composites used to produce finished doctor blades used by plants all over the world. Her business card read “Woman of Steel (and Plastic).” After Tom died in 2012, Eve took on the role of President of the company, working in this role until her passing. Allison Systems celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018 and remains a leading supplier in the industry.

Eve was a very active member of the Island Heights community, and was known for her great generosity, both financially and with her time, to its institutions. Her first love was the IHYC.

As a sailor, she participated in the annual ladies’ only races, winning the Berry Cup in 1962. Later, she served as the club representative in the larger Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association (BBYRA) for more than 20 years. In 2019, Eve was honored with a lifetime service award by the BBYRA. Off the water, she ran many of the IHYC’s cabarets, and even when not actively running the show was a behind-the-scenes supporter of these Cabaret shows her whole life. In 1996, she was awarded the Dorothy Hummel award for her extraordinary service to the club and in 2022 was honored with life membership. She was a founding member, board member, and major donor of the Sailing Foundation of Barnegat Bay. Eve started the Island Heights Garden Club and entered the club in the prestigious Philadelphia Flower Show for several years. Eve has supported the Island Heights Cultural and Heritage Association by showcasing her gardens for their annual garden tour more than once, in addition to financial contributions. She joined Alice and Sarah in support of the John F. Peto Studio Museum, serving on the Board and spearheading an initiative to make the museum handicap accessible, making major financial contributions to the project.

Eve was an avid singer, and later in life she got involved in the Island Heights United Methodist Church through the choir. Through the years, Eve got more involved in the Methodist church, joining several clubs and serving on many committees, including the Island Heights house tour fundraiser.

Eve was a friend to everyone who met her, even being called a “fairy godmother” to some. Regardless of what challenges she faced, she remained always a pragmatic optimist, and sought out joy in all people.

A celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, June 13,, 11:00 AM at the Island Heights United Methodist Church, 111 Ocean Ave., Island Heights, NJ 2026.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Eve's memory may be made to The Sailing Foundation of Barnegat Bay, .O. Box1227, Island Heights, NJ 08732 or by visiting [email protected]