Frank H. Allen is being inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously, for his lifelong community service benefiting the residents of Rensselaer and West Sand Lake.
Frank lived in Rensselaer from 1947-1960. Frank belonged to the Van Rensselaer High School class of 1952. He joined the Rensselaer Fire Department after marrying Nancy Baldwin in 1954. He moved his family and built a house in West Sand Lake in 1961, joining the Fire Department and Rescue Squad. He also was very involved with the town government serving on the Zoning Board of Appeals from 1971-2009, functioning as their chairman and secretary. Frank’s reputation was so well known that in the late ‘60’s he was contacted by some folks in Rensselaer to assist them in organizing a volunteer ambulance corp. He lent his expertise even though he worked two jobs, at the NYS Department of Criminal Justice Services, and as owner/operator of Frank’s Key and LockShop, and volunteered extensively in WSL. Frank was also a volunteer Rensselaer County Auxiliary Police Officer who fingerprinted children for safety programs at the Schaghticoke Fair among some of his duties. He served the county and the village for over 30 years. When Frank was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis he did not let it stop him from his volunteer work. Fighting pain and weakness, he continued to help the village. Some of Frank’s awards include the Rensselaer County Executive Commendation, Sand Lake Citizen of the Month, Devoted Volunteer Award from the WSL Fire Company and the MDA Northeastern Personal Achievement Award. He passed away in 2010 at the age of 76, leaving his wife Nancy, fire children and eight grandchildren. Frank was nominated by his daughter, Tabitha Marie Allen Tufano of West Sand Lake.