Geoffrey ALLEN Obituary

I was a medical student and later registrar in surgery when Geoffrey Allen was at Vellore. His brilliance and Pizaz was an enduring inspiration. I reconnected with him about 10 years ago at an Alumni meeting and was able to thank him. He touched many lives! May his glorious spirit shine for ever. Seshadri Raju Batch of [email protected]

I met Geoff in 2000 at St Andrews golf course. Every N.Z. summer I returned and had the privilege of talking and playing with him. Always a gentleman. My life was enriched by having known him. I will always remember his drive on hole 6 hitting a tree about 50m away, him turning to us and saying "even I heard that". A great dry sense of humour. I will remember him. A Hnatiuk

Dear Family of Dr. Geoff,
I was one of the privileged ones to be on Dr. Geoff's mailing list. I was in contact with him during and after my 3 year stint as General Secretary of the Alumni Association. I enjoyed being on the receiving end of his inimitable humour, his ideas on life in general, his belief in Christ, his lasting affection for CMC, his interest in the memories and history of India before the sixties and his particular brand of irreverence which I thoroughly enjoyed. My elder sister who was in the batch of 1955 and was a student of his for awhile, used to tell us about his exploits so I was really happy to get into contact with him. He almost came for a cardiothoracic reunion but unfortunately could not make it.
I grieve for and with you all. From what I can make out his was a long and satisfying life. The world will be a less joyous place now that he has left. I trust he is safe with God now.
Wishing you all the best in the future,
Elizabeth Pushpa Eapen

Geoff was a couple of years senior to me at Vellore Medical College and later we were colleagues in the Cardiothoracic Department.
Warm memories of his intellectand and humour.Till recently he kept up on his email blogs.
Rest in peace.
George Cherian
Batch 1950

Geoff travelled a long trajectory in his life. Born in British India, schooled in the North, trained in CMC Vellore and settled in New Zealand after a brief stint in the UK. As member of the first batch of men students at CMC, he was one of a rare species that walked the earth. I met him and interacted with him for several years after he attended the Australia/New Zealand CMC alumni association meeting in Sydney in 2011. He brought us laughter and tears with storied he narrated from his youth, esp the early days of CMC Vellore. He touched our lives in a way no one ever did and for that we will be forever grateful. We will miss you, Geoff.

He was senior to both of us in Med School, but was still around till we left for Mission Hospital work.

We did a couple of picnics together during after graduation. His lofty bearing was impressive to say the least on patients especially.

We last saw him in Montreal, in 1996, at a GOTC. He was able to immitate a NZ war cry then--dance and all!!

May memories never die---they just fade away.
--Eizabeth [Verghese] and Merl Fernando

May God bless his soul and grant him peace, for he has run the good race and given his best to his master.

DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY
I WAS PRIVILAGED TO KNOW HIM AS MY GROUP OBSERVER AT VELLORE IN 1958
MET HIM AGAIN HERE IN K L AT A MEETING
GREAT SURGEONS LIKE GEOFFERY ALLEN ARE THE ONES WHO LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR CMC VELLORE HOSPITAL AND COLLEGE
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE
GEORGE THOMAS
MALAYSIA

I was Geof's registrar at Waikato hospital in the mid 1980's. He was always fair and good to me and a wonderful teacher. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to know him and work for him.