Martin E. Allen, a former Redding resident who had been a tree surgeon, died Tuesday, July 29, in Wilton Meadows Health Care Center. He was 54 years old and had suffered from Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Marty Allen was born in Norwalk on May 25, 1949, grew up in Westport and Weston, and had lived in Ridgefield, Redding and other area towns. He graduated from Staples High School and was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War.
An outdoorsman, he had been a tree surgeon with New England Tree in Bethel for 16 years. “He would often be found eating his lunch sitting up in the boughs of a tree 30 feet high,” a friend said.
Mr. Allen had been active in local softball leagues, both managing and pitching. He maintained that he never had a losing season in 24 years of play.
Nearly three years ago, Mr. Allen learned that he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease, which progressively attacks and kills nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. During his illness many friends rallied to his support. Last November, 150 people gathered to honor him at a party held at Jesse Lee Memorial United Methodist Church in Ridgefield.
“Friends keep me alive,” he told a reporter after the event.
Linda Avila, a Wilton Meadows nurse who cared for Mr. Allen, said last fall that “he’s charmed all the staff here and is always smiling. I’ve never seen anybody handle [Lou Gehrig’s disease] like him. He’s an inspiration.”
Last fall, Mr. Allen and a group of more than 30 friends got together to support the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He was asked to cut the ribbon to begin the walk-a-thon and despite being wheelchair bound, he led his group in raising more than $3,500.
His survivors include a son, Kyle, who lives in Illinois, two sisters, Joanne and Betty, and two brothers, Frank and Patrick.
Friends and family will gather at the Harding Funeral Home, 210 Post Road East, Westport, on Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m.
A graveside service will take place Friday at 11 a.m. in Christ and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery, Kings Highway North at Old Hill Road in Westport.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Allens Meadow in Wilton.