Dennis H. Allee

Born in New York City to John and Alberta (Sellier) Allee, Dennis graduated from Wesleyan University and came to Provincetown in 1958 to find a summer job. With assistance from the late George Bryant, also a Wesleyan classmate, he found work at the Bonnie Doone restaurant (now MusselBeach Health Club), working for the Cabrals. It was quite a summer: bonfires on the beach, vodka in the water glasses and very little sleep. He loved those times.

After Columbia Law School, Dennis was a trial lawyer on Wall Street. He walked away from that after eight years to enter public service, and never looked back. He was First Assistant Attorney General for New York State, Senior Commissioner of Economic Development under Governor Mario Cuomo and Director of Program Development for the Speaker of the New York State Assembly. He was most proud of major revitalization efforts in the South Bronx and other distressed communities, and developing programs to help minority-owned, women-owned and small businesses compete. Through it all, Dennis continued to come to Provincetown. In 1997, he retired here permanently.

Dennis joyfully embraced Provincetown life and was known for his many contributions to the community. He became a passionate advocate for the Peaked Hill Trust dune shacks and served as a Board member and shack caretaker for almost two decades. Dennis was also a board member of the Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM), and a volunteer DJ for WOMR, hosting a popular weekly show, Jazz Odyssey. He was also a member of the Beachcombers Club for over 25 years.

Dennis became a serious ceramicist, taking classes at PAAM and Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, with space at the Patrick studios and later at the Morean Center for Clay in St. Petersburg, FL. He was represented by Cortile Gallery. Dennis especially loved working in raku, a Japanese technique where low-fire ceramic pieces are placed immediately in a container with combustible materials like sawdust or newspaper.

He is survived by daughters Elena Allee of Worthington, MA, Glenna Allee (Karl) of San Francisco, CA and Susana Allee of Provincetown, grandson Vini Hefko-Allee of Worthington and brother Pete Allee of Los Angeles, along with many nieces and nephews. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Soup Kitchen in Provincetown, whose home delivery program meant so much to him in his last years, or to The Lily House in Wellfleet.