Allen Irwin Stevens

Published Date

Allen Irwin Stevens, 73, of Wolfeboro, died Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at the Mountain View Community in Ossipee.

He was born on Oct. 4, 1938 in New York State, the son of Henry A. and Jean (Irwin) Stevens. He was a descendant of Ethan Allen of Vermont for whom he was named.

Allen, his parents and two sisters came to Wolfeboro in 1940 to assist his grandparents who owned and operated the Point Breeze Resort on Lake Wentworth, a business begun by his great-grandfather, Charles H. Stevens in 1889. Today, Point Breeze is no longer a family resort, as it was developed and sold by the Stevens family in the 1980s and is now a 45-unit condominium complex.

He was a graduate of Brewster Academy and attended Paul Smith's College in Upper New York State where he majored in hotel administration. After college and a time in the National Guard, he took a job in the hospitality-food service industry. He had later positions at a Vermont ski lodge, a German American Restaurant in Springfield, Massachusetts and worked for six years as director of Plymouth College's food service. He returned to Wolfeboro in 1972, after renovating the family home on Pleasant Valley Road where five generations of the family have lived. He took over the management of Point Breeze, a popular summer resort. After the development of the Point Breeze property, Allen spent the rest of his working career as property manager of the Point Breeze condominiums.

Allen was known to many in the area for his love and respect for the outdoors and his extensive knowledge of the Wolfeboro area. He was involved in community affairs and served as President of the Wolfeboro Area Chamber of Commerce for two years and the Wolfeboro Zoning Board of Adjustment for 11 years and was its chairman for four years. He was an alternate on the Wolfeboro Planning Board for four years and on the special committee for parking, docks and special needs studies. He was the Tree Warden for the Town of Wolfeboro and served on the Board of Elections. He was the Chairman of the Trac Rails Action Committee that constructed the multiuse six-mile section of the Cotton Valley Trail.

Allen was vice president of the Lake Wentworth Association from 1979 to 1981 and President from 1981 to 1983 and again from 1991 to 1992. Allen was totally involved with the Smith River Canoe and Kayak Race by maintaining proper water levels of the Smith River through his constant control of the Crescent Lake Dam and Allen again was totally involved with the reconstruction of the dam when the time came for extensive repairs. For years, he conducted walking tours of the remote Stamp Act Island situated in the middle of Lake Wentworth and he was a tireless volunteer for anyone who needed a ride to a doctor's office or help with a flooded basement.

He still found time to hunt, fish, hike and snowshoe, but his greatest passion was for boats, especially those that sailed on ice. His boat collection included kayaks, canoes, sailboats and his 1890 St. Lawrence Skiff. He was instrumental in bringing the Ice Yacht Regatta to Wolfeboro Bay. Several hundred ice boats from the northeast and as far away as Michigan showed up for the ice boat races and camaraderie of fellow ice boaters. He sailed his iceboat in the 1990 movie "Once Around" that was filmed in Wolfeboro.

The Allen Stevens trophy was established for the winning sailor in a regatta held annually at Point Breeze. The Lake Wentworth Association honored Allen at their fall dinner in October of 2009. The Allen I. Stevens Preserve on Pleasant Valley Road was established by his friends and the Lake Wentworth Foundation in appreciation of his life long efforts to conserve and protect the Lake in 2012.

In addition, he was a friend to many and never hesitated to help anyone at any time. His friends and aquaintenances always learned something new and interesting when they talked with him. He loved to share his knowledge with them and wanted to help others enjoy the beauty of New Hampshire. Allen was a person who cared a lot and expected little in return. He could be counted on for anything and never let anyone down. He went out of his way to make people's lives happier and his heart was filled with kindness and love. He will be truly missed.

He is survived by his son, David Stevens and his wife, Cecelia of Georgia; two grandchildren, Matthew Stevens and Cynthia Stevens, of Florida; one great-grandson; his sisters. Margaret Jean and her husband, Leonard A. Taylor, Ruth Kimball, all of Maine and Geraldine and her husband, Steven Jarvis, of Arizona. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive him. His son, Jeffrey Allen Stevens, predeceased him.

Services will be held at All Saint's Church in Wolfeboro at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 8 followed by a reception. All are welcome. Burial will be in the family plot at Lakeview Cemetery in Wolfeboro.
Lord Funeral Home in Wolfeboro is in charge of arrangements. To express condolences you may visit, www.lordfuneralhome.com.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the TRAC Rails Action Committee at WEDCO-TRAC, P.O. Box 253, Wolfeboro Falls, NH, 03896. Flowers for the church may be ordered from Linda's Flowers in Wolfeboro at (603) 569-4513.