The Loss of a Legend: John Allen ’54

When he coached the St. Benedict’s Prep wrestling team to a National Prep School Championship in 1962 or tutored Gray Bees in math in retirement, John M. Allen ’54 always instilled lifetime lessons of motivation, persistence and integrity in students. “There are things that aren’t taught in class that are vital,” he told this magazine in 2019 for a story on alumni volunteerism at The Hive. 

Mr. Allen passed away on March 16 at the age of 89. He was a giant to generations of students at St. Benedict’s, Vailsburg High School and Seton Hall Prep during his long and distinguished teaching and coaching career. A nine-time Hall of Famer, Mr. Allen is a member of the 1977 Hall of Fame Class at Benedict’s. He and his late brother, Thomas Allen ’49, were awarded the Medal of St. Benedict’s in 2024.