Frances C. Allee Ph.D.

Albany, NY-Frances Leona Colby Allee, 104, gently departed her life in her home in Albany, NY, on December 2, 2022. Born on June 17, 1918 in Oakland, CA, she grew up in Berkeley, CA, the only child of Jennie (Caswell) Colby and Charles Wilson Colby. She graduated from Mills College in Oakland, CA with a BA in 1940 and completed her Master’s (1943) and Ph.D. (1948) degrees in English at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. After two years as an instructor at Ohio State University, she joined the faculty of the State Normal School, later to become the University at Albany, State University of New York, and retired in 1980 after a long and distinguished career. She often entertained students in her home, creating memorable evenings of wonderful food and lively discussions. A beloved professor, she remained in contact with students and fellow UAlbany retirees until her death. She was a poet, with her first publication at age 14 in a Berkeley, CA newspaper. She went on to publish scholarly articles and her two books, Seasons, Voices, A Collection of Poetry, 1998, and Mark: A Story, 2009, both published by Troy Book Makers. Fran was a member of, and held various offices in, the Pine Hills Fortnightly Club, a literary and social club founded in 1898; and the Upper Hudson Association of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. In addition, she was also a member of the alumnae associations of Mills College and Johns Hopkins University, as well as the Modern Language Association and the Society for Values in Higher Education. Fran made annual trips to the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, driving herself there until age 96. She was a voracious reader and lover of the theatre. Fran was an accomplished seamstress and made costumes for several plays at UAlbany during her tenure there. She also loved beautiful music, bird watching, and gardening. A series of seven Corgis were adored companions during her lifetime. For many years, her rural hideaway in the northwestern fringes of the Catskills gave her great summertime respite and wonderful memories. In 1985 she married John (Jack) G. Allee, Jr., a fellow Johns Hopkins University doctoral student and widower, who with his beloved wife Harriet and their two sons, John and Stephen, had been “family” to Fran since their Johns Hopkins graduate student days. After their marriage, Jack and Fran traveled the world together until his untimely death on January 1, 1987. Fran lived alone for most of her adult life but was never lonely. An intrepid traveler with her alumnae associations’ trips, she made friends around the world on her travels. She was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Albany for decades, and her church was an integral part of her life. For 30 years she prepared the Thursday evening community dinners at Trinity and became known for her culinary and budgetary skills. She also taught Sunday School there for many years. Reading scripture and singing hymns was a favorite pastime when she was no longer able to travel to church services. She remained independent and self-sufficient until 1998 when she suffered a fall and needed help with daily living. She was still able to recite the entire prologue to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales until near her death. Fran’s desire was to die at home, and with the help of her friends and caregivers Cathie and Don Gifford and home healthcare aides, she was able to remain as active as she was able and wished, until her death. Her last months were made comfortable with Community Hospice, and we are so grateful to her Hospice team for the dedicated care and support she and her caregivers received. Beloved aides Jackie, Dorothy, and Jaida deserve special mention. She is survived by her stepsons, John G. Allee III (Feroza) of Kuala Lumpur, and Stephen D. Allee (Erna Marcus) of Washington, DC, as well as three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Fran was an important part of the life of her stepsons from their births. She will be greatly missed but remembered as a refined, dignified, giving and caring lady, and a friend to so many. She loved and was beloved. A celebration of her life will likely be held Spring of 2023 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Albany, NY. Details will follow. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 235 Lark Street, Albany, NY 12210 or WMHT, 4 Global View, Troy, NY 12180-8375. To leave a message for the family please visit www.McVeighFuneralHome.com.

Tributes

Frances C. Allee Ph.D.

June 17, 1918 - December 2, 2022