Carol B. Allen
June 2, 1924 – May 26, 2022

On May 26, 2022, one week shy of her 98th birthday, Carol Ruth Brumond Allen of Hanover, NH, passed away peacefully with her family by her side. Carol was the family matriarch and her family treasured and respected her in that role. Her life was one of love, humor, intelligence, and generosity. She touched the lives of many.

Carol Ruth Brumond was born on June 2, 1924, in Brooklyn, NY. She was an only child and growing up she was very close to her maternal grandparents and aunt and uncle. As a young teen, she and her grandmother traveled to Sherburne, Vermont for a vacation at Tawasi Lodge, where she met the love of her life, Robert Allen.

Carol and Bob were married on June 3, 1944, and, while her new husband went off to war in Italy, Carol worked in New York City. After the war, Carol and Bob settled in Hanover, New Hampshire where their three children were born. They moved to Lincoln, Massachusetts in 1958, remaining in Lincoln until retiring to Castine, Maine, where they lived for 17 years. Carol and Bob moved back to Hanover in 2005.

Carol was a committed and spirited participant in many aspects of her life. Her career in educational administration included work at Brandeis University and the Harvard Business School. She was a voracious reader and always intellectually curious, participating in the Dartmouth College adult education programs well into her nineties. She wrote many short stories and poetry which she often shared with her family.

Carol delighted in having friends of all ages. As a gourmet cook, she gave many dinner parties over the years, always making sure the conversation included a discussion of current events, preferably politics. She and Bob were outdoor enthusiasts and enjoyed skiing, hiking, and sailing. Carol and Bob particularly loved sailing – some of their favorite times were spent cruising in the Atlantic from Maine to Bermuda and from Venice to Dubrovnik in the Adriatic.

Carol was actively engaged in her community and passionate about issues of the environment, peace, and racial justice. She was very involved in Democratic electoral politics at both the local and national levels. Her beliefs were often followed up with action and she participated in numerous demonstrations related to her concerns (including traveling to Washington DC to attend the March against the Vietnam War in 1971 and protesting in Nevada against a nuclear weapons test site in the eighties). There were countless letters written to elected officials and an opportunity to vote was never missed. Carol's strong democratic values remained steady throughout her life, and she always had an opinion on the issues of the day, which she wasn't afraid to share with anyone. In her later years, she judged her lifespan according to presidential elections and regularly expressed her desire to "live until the next election". When in the hospital after her fall on May 25th, she told the emergency room staff that she was determined to vote in November.

Carol is predeceased by her husband Robert Leonard Allen, and her son-in-law, Scott McKibben. She leaves behind her son Mark Allen, her daughters Susan Allen (Neil Middleton) and Martha Allen (Tim Jerman), five grandsons, Tyler Middleton (Jennie Perlmutter), Nicholas Middleton, Cody McKibben (Brianna Blanchard), Wyatt McKibben (Bradlee McKibben), Samuel Allen, and three great grandchildren, Penelope Middleton, Charles Middleton, and Harper McKibben.

A private family gathering will be held in Killington, Vermont this summer where Carol will be laid to rest alongside her loving husband, Robert.

Gifts in Carol's memory may be made to Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT.org)