In memoriam: James E. Allen, MD

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• James E. Allen, MD 1929-2000

OUR FRIEND, partner, and colleague, Dr James E. Allen, a charter member of the American Pediatric Surgical Association and the Surgical Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and an attending pediatric surgeon at Children's Hospital of Buffalo for more than 30 years, died Monday (October 23, 2000) in his home in East Aurora, New York with his family at his side after a long illness.

Jim, 71, was born in Cleveland. He was a graduate of Ohio State University and a 1955 graduate of the Ohio State University School of Medicine.

He served his surgical internship and residency at Ohio State's University Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and served in the Navy from 1956 to 1958. He completed his residency in General Surgery at Ohio State's University Hospital, his fellowship in Pediatric Surgery at the Columbus Children's Hospital, and was certified by the American Board of General Surgery in 1963. In 1975, he was certified by the American Board of Surgery with special competence in Pediatric Surgery.

He was an attending surgeon at Children's Hospital of Buffalo from 1964 until his death. He also was an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the State University New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Science from 1984 to 1997 and continued as a Professor Emeritus. During this period, he also was a Pediatric Surgical Consultant at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. He served as Interim Surgeon-in-Chief at Children's Hospital of Buffalo from 1991 to 1993 and as President of its Medical/Dental Staff from 1992 to 1993.

He served as president of the Western New York Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, the State Division of the American Cancer Society, and the State Cancer Programs Association.

He also was a member of the American Pediatric Surgical Association, the American College of Surgeons, The American Academy of Pediatrics, the British Association of Pediatric Surgeons, the Zollinger Surgical Society, the Central Surgical Association, the American Trauma Society, and the Pediatric Oncology Group.

He is survived by his wife, Raffeala J. Martino Allen; three sons, Douglas J. Pierce of Cheektowaga, NY, Michael J. of Boulder, Colorado, and Mark E. of Hartford, Conn.; and four daughters, Debra J. Murphy of Amherst, NY, Carolyn A. Strach of Newstead, NY, Tina Line of Monroe, Ohio, and Margaret J. Kleinmann of Williamsville, NY; a sister, Dorothy Anne Harvey of California; and 11 grandchildren.

In the weeks and months leading up to Jim's death he expressed to his family and friends many of his specific desires and requests regarding the rituals of death and dying. He fought to the very end to enjoy every moment he could with his family and friends. He wanted to die at home with his family and faithful dog, Willie, by his side. He requested cremation. Instead of a somber memorial ceremony, he requested that after his death we celebrate his life and accomplishments with uplifting songs, poems, prayer, and stories. All of these wishes were granted.

With this in mind, we would like to share with you some personal thoughts about Jim. Jim Allen's life was an eclectic patchwork. We want to celebrate with you Jim's life as a master pediatric surgeon. A life he devoted to the caring and curing of neonates, infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents, giving each of his patients a healthy life, a better life, and a longer life. A unique aspect of pediatric surgery is not only the relationship we have with our patients, but also the relationship with our patients' parents and their family. Jim would instantly calm and reassure even the parents' and families' of sickest kids with his poised, white haired, slow walking, slow talking persona. He was a tall man with full head of perfectly arranged white hair, in a brilliantly white starched coat, he exuded confidence without arrogance.

We want to celebrate with you Jim's life as a teacher. During his 34-year career, Jim taught thousands of medical students, hundreds of general surgery residents, and trained 28 pediatric surgical fellows. The surgeons he trained are now practicing throughout North America. When they operate, a part of Jim operates with them. This is the greatest legacy a surgeon can have.

We want to celebrate with you Jim's life as a researcher and innovator. Jim wrote or coauthored over 50 peer-reviewed articles. He was very humble about this, but he was a coauthor of the original descriptions of the use of herniagrams in children, Meckel's scans in children with lower gastrointestinal bleeding, and the use of computerized tomography for the management of blunt abdominal trauma in children—techniques that are used every day, around the world, to make the lives of children healthier and better.

We want to celebrate with you Jim's life as a leader. Jim's leadership style was fair and based on consensus building.

We want to celebrate with you Jim's life as a team player. When Jim was asked occasionally to deviate from his personal agenda for the good of the team, he would always support the team's final decision.

We want to celebrate with you Jim's life as a mentor. Jim's years of experience and easygoing personality made him an approachable mentor for several of our fellows. For some, this relationship was that of a surrogate father.

We want to celebrate with you Jim's life as a counselor. We and others frequently asked him for advice about one thing or another. Be it a patient-related issue or a sensitive political problem around the hospital, he was always there for others and us.

We want to celebrate with you Jim's life as a practice partner. He was a great partner. In our absence, he cared for our patients as if they were his own. I met Jim during my recruitment to Buffalo in 1987. My first impression was he was “old school.” This was not surprising to me, because I knew his mentors. His general surgery chief was the legendary Dr Robert M. Zollinger, and his Pediatric Surgery Chief was the recently deceased Dr William H. Clatworthy Jr—two men who were the essence of discipline and excellence. Although I never met Dr Zollinger, I know personally how proud Bill Clatworthy was of Jim's surgical career and accomplishments. I expected Jim to be rigid and set in his ways. But as I got to know Jim and shared new and different ideas with him, he would always listen and evaluate. When we would suggest some new and innovative operation, technique, or idea, he would frequently wryly say, “That's great, why don't you young people take care of this.”

We want to celebrate with you Jim's life as a friend. Friendship should be based on strong mutual respect; this was a given in our relationships. A friend should be there for you when you are in need. Jim was always there when we needed him.

And lastly, we want to celebrate with you Jim's life as a human being, a loving husband, a devoted father, and proud grandfather. Jim appreciated things big and small. Whether it is the rolling hills of East Aurora, NY; the deserts of the Southwestern United States; or the beaches of his beloved New England, Jim appreciated and respected all the people around him and treated all people the same way. So while we grieve and reflect on what has been lost, we must take comfort in what has been gained. He was blessed to have a profession he found fulfilling and touch the lives of many patients and families. He trained hundreds of pediatricians, general surgeons, and pediatric surgeons, who will touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of children. He was fortunate to have good friends and strong family ties. He was blessed to have Raffie, a devoted and loving wife and best friend. They had more than a marriage; they had a 20-year love affair. We love you Jim, and we'll miss you. We are all better for having known you.

Jim and Family have asked that any donations or contributions in Jim's memory be made to The James E. Allen Memorial Research Fund of the Children's Hospital of Buffalo of Foundation, C/O Pediatric Surgical Associates, 219 Bryant Street, Buffalo, NY 14222. The first annual James E. Allen Lectureship, celebrating Jim's career dedicated to clinical excellence and the teaching of students, residents, and fellows will be held in the fall of 2001. Patrick Bailey, MD, a former fellow, will be the first James E. Allen Lecturer; all of you are welcome to attend.