The Chamber & CREDC mourns the passing of Allen D. Quirk, Jr. on April 3, 2023 at age 87.
Our Chamber community fondly remembers Allen for his positive spirit and his constant ability to spread happiness. He lived his life loving and caring for those around him, always asking what he could do to help improve circumstances for others.
A lifelong Harrisburg resident, Allen joined the Chamber in 1998 following his retirement as a state employee. For 25 years, he was an active and dedicated volunteer on the Chamber Ambassadors and Diplomats Committees, and he received the Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year award in 2004.
With a joy for capturing happy moments, Allen always arrived at Chamber events with camera in hand, taking thousands of photos throughout the years—and always taking the time to develop, print and hand deliver those photos to the people in them so they had a special keepsake. He had a gift for making those around him feel important, appreciated, and celebrated.
We could fill a book with lists of all of the charitable organizations Allen supported with his time, talent and treasure. And we could fill several volumes with the names of individuals he impacted with his mentorship, advice and friendship. Among those are the student recipients of the Allen D. Quirk Jr. Excellence in Education Award, a scholarship program he started to help ensure that students succeed in their post-secondary pursuits. He encouraged students to remember, “Your education is your life – guard it well.”
Allen will be dearly missed, not only by those in our organization, but by many within the region that he was so passionate about. His extraordinary life exemplifies that of a true community servant. He leaves behind a legacy full of people who were fortunate to know him, blessed to call him a friend and grateful for the many memories they have of him.
Tributes: There are no public services. For updates on informal celebrations of life, please add your email to our update list. You will only be contacted for this purpose.
