Allen Hoyt Pease

Allen Hoyt Pease, 94, died Tuesday, February 11, 2020, at the Fisher House in Amherst, Massachusetts. He was surrounded in his last week by his family and his faithful wife and companion, Deborah Pease. Allen, known to friends as Al, was born on June 15, 1925 in New Britain, CT, the son of the late Maurice Henry Pease and Barbara Moore Pease. He is predeceased by his son, Randall Stuart Pease; and Randall’s infant twin, Maxwell Carpenter Pease; his sister, Martha Pease Bronson; and his brothers Maurice Henry Pease, Jr., and Lawrence Herbert Pease.

Al grew up in New Britain, CT, and attended Mooreland Hill School and Forman School, where he founded the Fig Newton Four, a quartet in which he played the drums.  After graduating from Forman, Al enlisted in the army in in 1943, fighting in World War II, and in the Battle of the Bulge. He married Beverly Knight in 1947 and attended the University of Chicago receiving a B.A. degree. Al and Beverly moved to Charlottesville, VA where Al attended the University of Virginia School of Law and was on the law review. Following graduation, Al and Beverly moved, with their growing family, to Kensington, CT, where he established his tax and estate law practice, and was active in church and community service, including serving as trustee for the New Britain Museum of American Art until his retirement. Al was also a dedicated member of the Harthaven community on Martha’s Vineyard, becoming the clerk for Hart Realty Association, and serving as both legal advisor and friend to many in that community.

After his marriage to Michelle Revenaugh in 1985, Al spent his spare time renovating and sailing his Herreshoff NY 50 sloop and travelling. After Michelle died, Al met Deborah Carey in 1994, who would become his lifelong love; they married in 2003.  When they weren’t traveling, Al and Debby split their time between their Leverett, MA home and their home on Martha’s Vineyard. Each year the couple hosted a large beach gathering on the Vineyard, cooking for some 200 guests. The “Beach Party” became a well-known Harthaven tradition. An accomplished skier, sailor and golfer, Al was also an excellent cook and a wonderful companion.  Al and Debby were gracious hosts to the many guests who visited them over the years. Generosity was second nature to the couple, who loved entertaining.

Al is survived by his wife, Deborah Pease of Leverett, MA; by his children, Allen Hoyt Pease, Jr. of Hebron; Marion Pease Berman of Madison; and Carol Lewis Pease of Kensington; and by his stepdaughter, Merritt Carey of Yarmouth, ME; their spouses; and his twelve grandchildren; and his three great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at West Lane Cemetery, Kensington on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 1:00 pm.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New Britain Museum of American Art or the Herreshoff Museum.