Larry Wayne Allen

Larry Wayne. Allen 1946 – 2025

Larry was the eldest son of Harry R. Allen and Clara M. Allen who married and

moved to California shortly after WW II. Larry grew up in Rosemead, attended school in

the San Gabriel Valley and graduated from California State College Los Angeles in 1968

with dual degrees in Economics and Philosophy. Larry continued his graduate studies in

Economics at Harvard University.

After college, he took civilian employment with the US Navy. Larry planned that

he would work full time for at most ten years, targeting his “retirement” in April 1984.

He served as a civilian Contracting Officer for the US Army and the US Air Force.

Larry’s plan to retire came to fruition. He acquired rental-income property in the Los

Angeles neighborhood of El Sereno and retired to a frugal lifestyle in January 1982.

One of Larry’s passions was Early Music as performed and interpreted using

period instruments and historically-informed practices. He was a founding member of the

Harpsichord Society of Los Angeles. When the Harpsichord Society became the Southern

California Early Music Society, Larry joined its board and served for over 25 years, in

every office, including President. Larry volunteered for many additional Early Music

organizations, including serving on the Boards of Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra

(Treasurer and Secretary) and the Foundation of the Neo-Renaissance (President and

Vice-President).

Larry had another passion. Birding. During the first year of his retirement, Larry

became aware of the great beauty and variety of avian life. He became deeply involved in

birding, quickly became proficient and joined several professional ornithological

organizations. Later, he lectured, led field trips, and wrote widely on the subject. His

most ambitious publication was as first author of the 660-page Los Angeles County

Breeding Bird Atlas. In later years, Larry birded on all seven continents.

He traveled our country from one end to the other visiting friends, art museums,

classical music events and remote points of natural interest including separate driving

trips to the Bering Sea and Artic Ocean. The best of these adventures was with wife and

lover Marilyn with whom he spent 30 years. Their last years were spent happily in

Altadena, California. His home and its rich collection of Native American art,

voluminous library, and a collection Allen and Wright family heirlooms were lost in the

2025 Eaton Fire.

To his friends, Larry was smart, quick-witted, well-informed, warm and loyal.

The sort of man anyone would be lucky to call a friend.

Larry was predeceased by his parents, younger brother Gary and his wife, Marilyn

Morgan. He is survived by his nephew Thomas Allen, niece Kelly Mosley and her

children, cousins, and friends too numerous to count. He will be profoundly missed by

all.