HANCOCK
Allen E. Dennison of Hancock passed away unexpectedly at home on March 9, 2019.
He was born on July 11, 1957, in Boothbay Harbor, the third of four sons of Bernard A. and Shirley (Mitchell) Dennison (Johnston).
After his father began working for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Allen lived in New Hampshire, West Virginia, New York and Massachusetts before returning to Maine in 1973. Allen graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1975 and attended the University of Maine at Farmington.
Throughout most of his life, Allen worked as a home builder in eastern Maine, learning much of the carpentry trade early on with F.L. (Frank) Davis of Orland. In addition to the many jobs that he led on his own, including his brothers’ homes and numerous projects on friends’ homes, he also worked for Michael Hewes & Company of Blue Hill, Atlantic Builders of Surry and Broughman Builders of Ellsworth. He especially enjoyed the annual projects at Vivian and Bob Reynolds’ summer cottage at Gardner Lake in Jacksonville. For the past five years, he had been a finish carpenter at The Hinckley Co. in Trenton, making many new friends and also working alongside his brother Paul on custom jet boats. With a carpentry career spanning more than 40 years, Allen had become a master of his craft. Allen loved spending time on or near water, especially doing “research” on the warm sandy beaches of the Caribbean islands. For several winters in the 1980s, he worked with his brother David as a commercial scallop fisherman in Blue Hill Bay. The days were often cold, but the outdoor “office” scenery was beautiful. In 1990, Allen trained alongside his father, Bernard Dennison, and Steve Swartz at Kennebec Aquaculture in Embden, and for the next 11 years managed the hatchery, raising high-quality Atlantic salmon smolts.
It was here that he met Kim (Crowley) Lyman, the mother of his daughter Rachel. Rachel instantly became the apple of his eye, and Allen’s world was forever better, developing a deep father/daughter friendship that brought him the greatest joy and happiness. Most recently, everyone whom he encountered was reminded that he was soon going to be a Grampie. No matter where he lived, he always enjoyed spending time at family gatherings at the cottage on Gardner Lake, providing grand fireworks shows on summer evenings. There were many memorable nights at the hunting camp in Lexington, sharing old stories and often trading banter with his cousin Larry Dennison, and enjoying delicious meals prepared by Steven and others. He enjoyed whitewater rafting, hunting, fishing, hiking and cooking with family and friends. After his first of several trips to Jamaica, he discovered that Red Stripe beer should be a staple in anyone’s refrigerator.
He was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his daughter, Rachel Dennison, and her partner Jay Borden of North Conway, N.H.; his brothers, Steven and sister-in-law Mary K of Essex Junction, Vt., Paul and sister-in-law Shirley, of Ellsworth and David and his fiancée Doreen Deschenes, of Lamoine; nieces, Claire Cosenze and her husband Anthony, of Framingham, Mass., Laura Dennison of Boston, Mass., Jeanne Dennison of Ellsworth and Kristi Bartlett and her husband, Dan, of Ellsworth; nephew, Travis Dennison and his partner Lindsey Bateman, of Claremont, N.H. In addition, Allen is survived by several great-nephews and great-nieces, as well as many cousins. He is also survived by his uncle Roger Mitchell and his wife, Gloria, of Bangor and his aunt Eileen Decouteau and her husband Henry, of Summerfield, Fla.
A gathering to celebrate Allen’s life will be held at a later date.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.