Allen L Nielsen

Allen Lee Nielsen, age 74, passed away peacefully on July 29th, 2021, at home after a quick, but bravely fought battle with lung cancer.  He was born on October 29th, 1946, in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Albert C. Nielsen and Helen (Dobrich) Nielsen.  Allen, the oldest of three boys, spent his childhood in Trumbull, Connecticut, graduating from Trumbull High School in 1964.  He attended the University of Connecticut, achieving a Bachelor of Arts in 1968, then later completing his MBA.  While pursuing his undergraduate degree, he began officer training for the United States Navy, eventually completing 4 years of active duty.  He then he retired as a Commander after serving an additional 22 years in the Navy Reserve.  He shared that his most memorable moments in the Navy were of his time spent on the nuclear submarines.  He resided in Glastonbury, Connecticut for almost 40 years, where he raised his two children, supporting their many activities and sports, including volunteering on the board of directors at Pinebrook Swim Club. He worked as a bank executive for the Glastonbury Bank & Trust (GBT) for over 20 years and was known for his dedication and mentorship to his employees.  Later in his career, he pursued his passion for teaching, becoming a part-time instructor at the American Institute of Banking and the New England College of Business.  Following his time at GBT, Allen was instrumental in forming Bankers’ Bank Northeast, eventually retiring in 2011 and moving to Lakewood Ranch, Florida.

While Allen was proud to have served his country in the United States Navy and was dedicated to his career, he also pursued many other interests and passions in his spare time.  He was a lifelong learner, gaining new knowledge at every opportunity he had.  Even as a young boy, he was fascinated with the world, tuning short-wave radios with his father to connect to broadcasts from around the world and he collected stamps and coins.  He continued his interest with short wave radios into adulthood, but also became an avid traveler.  He was eager to explore and to learn about the history, culture, and landmarks across the US and in countries overseas.  He enjoyed meeting people along his travels, striking up a conversation with just about anyone.  His experiences ensured that he was never short on a story to tell.  He and his partner Karen, the love of his life, shared many wonderful adventures as they traveled to many locations within the United States, as well as overseas.  Even when not traveling, they were always learning about new places to explore and planning their next trip.  They would have food adventures at home, experimenting with new recipes.  His excitement to learn about the world around him was evident in his talent to even make a local excursion into an adventure.  He was an amateur weatherman, always on top of the latest forecast, ensuring everyone around him was prepared for what was to come.  His spectacular navigation skills ensured he never got lost or used a GPS, and was also known for giving very detailed written or verbal directions to anyone who asked.  His uncanny ability to pack a car perfectly came in handy for his many travels, and were ideal for getting his kids home from college too.

Allen was very proud of his children and grandchildren, eager to hear and share about their latest activities and/or accomplishments.  He had a special connection with each one of them, which will forever be cherished.  He received a kidney transplant in early 2013, granting him the precious gift of time to spend with his loved ones and to enjoy his hobbies and travels.  He will always be remembered for his charismatic personality, friendly demeanor, and zest for life.  He was loved deeply and will be missed.

He is survived by his partner Karen (Anderson) McConnell of Lakewood Ranch, Florida, his children Emily Borders (Scott) of Annandale, Virginia and Eric Nielsen (Brooke) of Centreville, Virginia, his grandchildren, Natalie, Sean, Gavin and Savannah, Karen’s daughter Erin Kahler (Chad) of Amherst, New York and granddaughters Madison and Ashtyn, his brothers Mike Nielsen (Susan) of Oak Park, Illinois and Mark Nielsen (Elaine) of Ivoryton, Connecticut, his nephew Christian and niece Jillian, and his former wife Irene (Bradunas) Nielsen of Glastonbury, Connecticut.

Services to be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.  Information will be shared as it becomes available as Arlington has a delay; please email celebratealn@gmail.com for service updates and information.

Anyone wishing to honor Allen’s life can make donations to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (https://support.nmcrs.org/a/homepage – supports families experiencing financial difficulties due to deployments, family emergencies, and other hardships of military life), Tampa General Hospital Foundation (designation Transplant Program) (https://tghsecureforms.org/make-gift – supporting patients, like Allen, through the gift of life via transplant), and the Tidewell Foundation (https://tidewellfoundation.org/donate/ - their incredibly compassionate and skilled support and care of Allen in his final days was a blessing).