Theodore L. Allen, 31

Theodore Livingston Allen III '83, a former Harvard teaching fellow and resident tutor at Leverett House, died Friday at his Atlanta home of a form of tuberculosis. He was 31.

Born in Nashville, Tenn., Allen lived in Leverett House as an undergraduate, and received his master's degree in English and American literature in 1988.

Starting in 1988, Allen served as a teaching fellow for various core and English literature courses. He also taught at the Milton Academy in Milton, Mass.

Allen became a resident tutor in Leverett House in 1989. He was also a member of the Memorial Church choir.

Though Allen's health deteriorated dramatically in the summer of 1991, he continued to work on his dissertation on lyric poetry and author Rita Dove until his death.

"He was so focused, full of life and always doing projects, that it was hard for friends to accept that he was ill," said Maria Colbert '94, a family friend.

Senior Tutor Gordon C. Harvey said Allen was dedicated to making Leverett, which channels much of its energies into intramural sports, "a little more intellectual."

"Ted was really the most serious student of literature and the most engaging public speaker I've ever met," said Harvey. "He was fascinated by the process of teaching both at Milton Academy and Harvard. He wanted to make poetry live for the students."

Judith T. Stewart, assistant to the master of Leverett House, described Allen as "a promoter of education, willing to help as much as he could with anyone interested in teaching as a career."

In the 1989-90 Leverett facebook, Allen described himself as "a once (and Future) downwardly mobile suburbanprofessional (T.E.A.C.H.E.R)."

Allen is survived by his parents, Theodore BoseAllen Jr. and Mary Roberta McMillan of Atlanta;his brother, Capt. Michael C.; two sisters,Bernice F. of Houston and Cynthia M. of Atlanta;and his paternal grandmother, Emily Sawyer Allenof Atlanta.

In lieu of flowers, the family requestsdonations to a scholarship fund established inAllen's name. Donations should be sent to theMilton Academy, 170 Centre St., Milton, Mass.,02196.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. todayin Atlanta at the Church of the Incarnation,followed by a burial service at the ZionMissionary Baptist Church Cemetery

Allen is survived by his parents, Theodore BoseAllen Jr. and Mary Roberta McMillan of Atlanta;his brother, Capt. Michael C.; two sisters,Bernice F. of Houston and Cynthia M. of Atlanta;and his paternal grandmother, Emily Sawyer Allenof Atlanta.

In lieu of flowers, the family requestsdonations to a scholarship fund established inAllen's name. Donations should be sent to theMilton Academy, 170 Centre St., Milton, Mass.,02196.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. todayin Atlanta at the Church of the Incarnation,followed by a burial service at the ZionMissionary Baptist Church Cemetery