Remembering the Fallen: Richie Allen

Growing up on the beaches of the Rockaways, one could find Richie Allen surfing with his friends or protecting lives on land or in the ocean high atop a life guard chair. This is how Allen, the oldest of six siblings, spent most of his summers before becoming a firefighter at Engine Company 4 and later Ladder Company 15 in Lower Manhattan at age 31. He actually wanted to juggle substitute teaching, life guarding and firefighting all at the same time, according to his mother, Gail, in a 2001 interview.
On the morning of September 11, Allen was waiting for his overnight shift to end at 9 a.m. when he was alerted about American Airlines Flight 11 that had just crashed into Tower One of the World Trade Center. Without hesitation, and after clocking out for the day, his fellow firefighters scrambled to the scene.
He was helping people leave the Tower One lobby when the building collapsed. He died doing what he dedicated his life to, saving others.
Since the events of September 11, Richie’s love of the ocean, the sand and the surf has been immortalized at the Richie Allen Memorial Surf Classic held each year in his honor.
“His credibility in the water was undisputable,” said Frankie McGrory, cousin and fellow son of Rockaway Beach. “He was an amazing surfer. He could track a storm…he had a hurricane symbol tattooed on his leg. A genuine water man.”
Future generations can look up at what used to be Beach 91st Street in Rockaway, now Richie Allen’s Way FDNY 9/11/01, and learn about what he did to deserve his own street in the world’s greatest city. He was one of 70 from the Rockaways who died on September 11, 2001, each of whom have their memories honored at Tribute Park on the shore of Jamaica Bay.
Richie is survived by sisters Judy Aikes, Lynn Allen and Maggie Allen, and brothers Luke and Matthew.