ARGYLE – Our dear Dinny suffered a heart attack and went on
to the big fishing hole in the sky on Thursday evening June 9, 2022. He was 74
years old.
Dinny was born on January 29, 1948, at Benedict Memorial
Hospital in Ballston Spa, New York. He
was the first of six children born to Raymond and Henrietta (TerSla) Allen
Morris. He was raised in Hudson Falls, NY and graduated from Hudson Falls High
School in 1967.
He was at his best when he was camping and in tune with
nature. He and his brothers were involved in scouting during their teen years,
and it was a proud moment when all three of the Allen brothers: Dinny, Billy,
and Donald, all earned their Eagle Scout Awards in August of 1967.
He enlisted in the U. S. Navy Construction Battalion in 1967
and served in the Seabees for 4 years. During that time, he earned the National
Defense Medal, Expert (Rifleman) Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze
star, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. BU3 H.H. Allen was with the Detail
Kangroo Battalion stationed at Bien Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam,
until his discharge in March of 1971. He returned to us unharmed, but not
unaffected by his war time tour of duty. Dinny was a member of the American
Legion Post 574, Hudson Falls.
Following active service, Dinny traveled for many years
working with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, He
worked in the maintenance department as a Millwright for Finch Pruyn Paper in
Glens Falls and was a member of UBC Millwrights. In his retirement he worked on
the road and in the shop for Zayachek Mechanical as tool tech and was
considered the company “MacGyver”.
Dinny was a kind and tender-hearted man who wore his
feelings on his sleeve. To know him was to love him. He had a way of taking on
others struggles as his own to help carry the load. His compassion, empathy,
blue jeans, plaid shirts, and mustache were trademark features. He was an
environmentalist at heart – a collector of all things still useful. He was a talented carpenter and musician, who
enjoyed hunting, fishing, cribbage, and horseshoes. Puzzles and reading kept his mind sharp so
that he could laugh and tell his favorite joke-of-the-week at his beloved family
gatherings. He shared his heart with others,
and he truly enjoyed cooking for them. He loved to plan and pull pranks and
uplift everyone’s spirits. He had many friends and fun memories. The world is a
better place for having had Dinny in it.
He resided in South Glens Falls for many years with his wife
and love of his life Patricia Tucker Zayachek Allen whom he married in 1980. They
later moved to Argyle for his “retirement years”. They lovingly raised three
children together, Mike and Beth Zayachek and Joe Allen. Dinny loved being a
dad, and adored being Grandpa, Poppy, and Pop-Pop. He had a wonderful connection with little ones,
and they had a natural affinity for him. He made forever memories for his children and
grandchildren, whether fishing off a pier or trying to keep warm in his
ice-fishing shanty. Riding around in the back fields on his four-wheeler, and
special days of strawberry picking, were not only marker-events in the
children’s lives but brought him untold joy.
Dinny
is survived by his wife Patricia Allen, their children, and partners: Michael
Zayachek (Janie), Bethanie Zayachek (Rich), and Joseph (Jeanette) Allen; their
grandchildren: Zackary Zayachek (Bri), Owen Ponda, Ariona Mallory (Hunter),
Dane Mallory, Calijah Howk (Mike), Cheyanne Morrill, Kaitlyn Mulligan, and Zoey
Allen. His siblings: William Allen
(Mary), Donald Allen (Anne), Judy Allen Mackay (Dave), and Janet Allen (Dan). His
sisters-in-law: Kathy Phillips, Brenda (Brad) Viehmann, Marybeth (Tim)
Snowball, and his brothers-in-law: David Perkins, Steven (Debbie) Tucker, Brian
(Mary) Tucker and Jeffery Tucker (Keri). He is also survived by many aunts,
uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and a great-great
nephew.
He was predeceased by his mother Henrietta TerSla Allen Morris, and Father Raymond Allen, his sister Deborah Allen Perkins, his brother-in-law Michael Phillips, and his beloved bird Rainbow.
Burial will be held 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at Southside Cemetery on Gansevoort Road in South Glens Falls with military honors provided by the Hudson Falls American Legion Post 574.
The family would like to thank the Fort Edward and Argyle rescue
squads, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department; Dinny’s treating
physicians, Dr. Alexandra Aarons, Dr, Peter Gray, Dr, Amy Hogan-Moulton, Dr.
Surendra Nevatia, and their staffs; and the many friends who loved and
supported Dinny throughout his life with us.
In honor of Dinny’s loving and accepting heart, the family
request that donations be made to South High Marathon Dance (proceeds go to
needy families or charities), the American Legion Post 574, The Reading League-Science
of Reading, Syracuse, NY, or a charity of your choice.