Posted on 08/19/2019
Milton Nicholas Allen, born in New York City April 15, 1927, died in Essex, May 29, 2019. He and his wife, to whom he was married for 35 years, moved to Essex in 2016. Previously, they had lived in Old Lyme, since 1988.
Milton entered Princeton University when he was 17, and was elected president of the class of '48. He took a wartime leave of absence from Princeton the next year, when he became old enough to attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. While there, he earned a bachelor of science degree in 1949, with distinction. Upon graduation, he was selected to represent the United States Navy and became a Rhodes Scholar Finalist. Milton then served in active duty for the Navy as a lieutenant and submarine commander until 1954, when he retired to pursue a career in business.
His civilian life began as Assistant to the President of Connecticut General Life Insurance Company in Hartford, prior to the same role for The Sherwin-Williams Company in Cleveland. He was also a Partner at Robert Heller & Associates (Management Consultants). In 1969, he started his own computer service, software and consulting business, which he led as CEO and chairman until its sale in 1990. Manufacturing Decision Support Systems (MDSS Inc.) was the first online management information systems and services company. It served manufacturing, distribution, insurance and transportation companies across the U.S.
Milton was a Director of Progressive Corporation for over 20 years, as well as a Director of Day-Glo Color Corp., DeSantis Coatings Inc., Premier Electric Company, Lighting International Corp., AGA Burdox Gas Inc., Daro Industries, Actron Corp., Mueller Electric Company, and the Women's Federal Savings Bank.
Contributing to the communities in which he lived was very important to him. In addition to his quiet philanthropy and mentorship of leaders, in Cleveland, he was a Director of Laurel School, the Cleveland Play House, the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Center for Venture Development and Case Western Reserve University School of Management. He was also chairman of the Goodrich-Gannett Neighborhood Center, chairman of the Cleveland Council for Independent Schools and chairman of the Switzer Foundation.
After moving back east, Milton became director and then chairman of the Ivoryton Playhouse in Connecticut, The Putney School and The Yellow Barn Music School in Vermont, and chairman of Hubbard Brook Environmental Research. He also served as a director of the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library in Old Lyme.
In addition to his business, and various commercial and not-for-profit roles, for which he was known for his integrity, insight and calm leadership, Milton was committed to his family, his friends and his lifetime love of music and the water.
Milton is predeceased by his wife, Liesa Bing Allen; his older brother, Homer Nicholas Allen and his twin brother, Winston Nicholas Allen. He is survived by his younger brother Gordon Nicholas Allen of Madison, Fla.; his three children from a previous marriage, Peter Milton Allen of Palo Alto, Calif., Thomas Hughes Allen of New York City and Jane Scarlett Allen of Sydney, Australia; as well as five grandchildren, Alexandra Elizabeth Scarlett Allen, Jonathan Thomas Allen, Olivia Sophie Allen, George Dexter Allen and Eloise Scarlett Allen-Bowton.
A Memorial Service to honor his life will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 24, 2019, at The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, 2 Ferry Road, Old Lyme. All are welcome.
Published in The Day on Aug. 18, 2019