Allen Reed Faurot

Allen Reed Faurot (1/4/1937 - 4/14/2020) will be remembered for his generosity of heart, fun loving nature, and infectious joie de vivre. He loved sharing his lifelong passions for sailing and shooting with his family and friends. Allen was born in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Phillips Academy in 1955 and Stanford University in 1959. During college, he joined the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps and later served as an Operations Officer in Mine Division 33 from 1959 - 1961 in Sasebo, Japan. After receiving a JD at the University of Chicago Law School, Allen worked as a lawyer in New York from 1964 - 1982, when he joined the Ford Foundation as Director of Special Investments. After his retirement in 1995, Allen served as a sailing instructor and mentor to midshipmen at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. From 2002 - 2007 he served as Executive Director of the U.S. Naval Sailing Foundation. Allen discovered sailing early in his life, racing with his dad and brothers on R and Q boats out of the Chicago Yacht Club on Lake Michigan. He continued to race on the Eastern Seaboard out of American Yacht Club in Rye, NY, and the Annapolis and Eastport Yacht Clubs in Annapolis, MD. He turned to ocean racing as well, competing in several Marion - Bermuda races as the celestial navigator, and captained his C&C 35 on the Newport - Bermuda Race. He served on race committees with distinction at all three clubs. While he loved racing, he found his true calling as a teacher and mentor. Nothing pleased him more than introducing newbies to the pleasures of sailing. He was a hands-off instructor-- he would explain, then let his new crew take the tiller or handle the jib sheets. He believed it's always fine to make a mistake, a lesson he imparted well to those around him, because then you won't make it again. Allen was a member of the Anne Arundel Fish and Game Club, a place where he taught his grandchildren to shoot safely and accurately. While remaining a lifelong gun enthusiast, he became a vocal advocate for gun safety. Allen is survived by his four children: Michelle Faurot (Duane Lodrige); Eric Faurot (Maxi Lilley); Catherine Faurot (Wilfred Pigeon); and Ryan Faurot; as well as seven grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings William Reay Faurot and Jean Faurot Warner. In addition he is remembered fondly by his devoted and beloved companion, Joyce Fowler, and his former wives JoAnn Ryan Faurot and Roberta Donaldson Downing. To celebrate Allen's life, we are planning a funeral service at Christ Church in Rye, NY, followed by a celebration of his life at the American Yacht Club. We are unable to specify a date at this time, but will promise to have his cannon there to send off a final salute to the man we hold near and dear to our hearts.