'Russ' Allen, standout athlete and flier, dies at 54

ERNEST RUSSELL Allen Jr., who tore up the football and track fields and the basketball courts of Haverford School and Colgate University, then became a Navy flight engineer patrolling the West Coast, died of cancer on Christmas. He was 54 and lived in Lexington Park, Md.

Russ, as he was called by family and friends, grew up in Ardmore. He was one of the first African-Americans at the private Haverford School, and as a running back was instrumental in the school's undefeated teams in 1970, '71 and '72 . He attained all-InterAc in football, basketball and track. He held state records for the low and high hurdles.

Russ was offered a football scholarship to Colgate, but turned it down: He wanted an academic scholarship, and he got it.

He continued his winning ways at Colgate, scoring three touchdowns against Bucknell as a senior. He later tore an Achilles tendon that put him out of athletics in his final year of college.

While undergoing rehabilitation, he took courses at the University of Pennsylvania to earn credits toward his eventual bachelor's in history from Colgate.

As a freshman at Colgate, he played with Mark van Eeghen, who went on to star for the NFL Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots, and roomed with Mark Murphy, now president of the Green Bay Packers.

Before his injury, Russ expected to be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. But that was not to be.

After graduating in 1975, Russ joined the Navy and took officer training at Pensacola, Fla. He became a flight engineer on the Lockheed P-3 Orion, a maritime patrol aircraft.

He estimated that he flew 3,000 missions, mostly from Alameda Naval Air Station in California to Alaska, making sure the coast was clear. He retired from active duty with the rank of commander in the mid-'80s, but remained an active member of the Naval Reserve.

In 1977, Russ married the former Constance Lowry, whom he had met at Colgate.

In the late '80s, Russ became a defense contractor testing software for the P-3 Orion at the Naval Air Development Center, in Warminster, Bucks County. He spent weekends on Reserve duty at Willow Grove Naval Air Station.

When the base closed, he relocated his family to the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland.

"Russell Allen was a joyful, energetic person with a zest for life," his family said. "He coveted his family and friends, and enjoyed coaching his daughters and their many friends' sports activities."

Both of his daughters, Danielle and Anica, were outstanding athletes at Abington Friends School. Danielle went on to play basketball at Hood College, in Frederick, Md., and amassed 1,500 points and 1,500 rebounds. Anica was a member of the Rutgers crew.

Russ was a member of the board of associates of Hood College and the board of trustees of Haverford School. He coached in the Upper Gwynedd Township girls' summer league, the Towamencin Youth Association, the North Penn Squires and the Montgomery Youth Association.

Russ was born in Bryn Mawr to Ernest Russell Allen Sr. and the former Ellen Hammond. The family later moved to Ardmore.

"Russ' love for the Navy and the P-3 never waned," his family wrote. "His experiences with the people he knew in the Navy were so rich he always had the material to relate a poignant story that brought a chuckle to his listeners and a warm smile to his own face."

Russ also is survived by two sisters, Ellen Richardson and Lydia Allen-Berry; and two brothers, Philip and Mark. He was predeceased by another sister, Adrienne Allen.

Services: 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Nicholas Chapel at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, and at 11 a.m. Friday at the Willow Grove Naval Air Station chapel.