Lynn Allen

Committed Teacher, Facilitator of Change

Lynn Allen taught what she believed – that each of us is integral to the bettering of the human condition. She had a great love of people and a lifelong commitment to economic and social justice. Ms. Allen died of complications from ovarian cancer on February 24, 2011. Born October 6, 1948, she grew up on Mercer Island and attended Mercer Island High School, graduating in 1966. Her life and career were influenced by the political upheaval of the 60’s. She received her B.A. in history from the University of Washington and shortly thereafter began teaching at Seattle’s Alternative School #1. She later went to work for Bank of America, teaching effective teamwork to change corporate culture. She moved on to work with The Villard Group, teaching organizational management nationally and internationally. She then founded TAOS, a teaching institute to help managers of progressive organizations develop leadership skills. Lynn joined the political blogging community in its infancy, first with the Gregoire campaign and then on Evergreen Politics and Rebuilding Democracy. She is remembered as “being the only adult” among rambunctious bloggers. Recently Lynn worked with the Institute for Washington’s Future on projects she described as “sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and the development of a statewide rural economic development policy focused on the inclusion of Latinos and other underserved populations.” She was on the Board of Directors of the Northwest Progressive Institute and a founding member of the Stanley Ann Dunham Scholarship Fund. Ms. Allen was preceded in death by her father John Wesley Allen and brother John Mark Allen. She is survived by her mother Georgia R. Slack Allen, sisters Nancy Turnberg and Lisa Allen (Randy), nieces Nadia Foster and Charity Hollingsworth (Josh), nephews Matt Turnberg (Connie), Paul Turnberg, Tim Turnberg, and many other family members and dear friends. A celebration of Lynn’s life will be held April 9 at the Community Center at Mercer View, 8235 SE 24th Street, Mercer Island, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Donations can be made to Cancer Lifeline, Seattle or to Stanley Dunham Scholarship Fund, 7683 SE 27th St., #102, Mercer Island, WA 98040.

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