The Georgetown University community remembered the late Anthony Allen, (CAS ’90), a Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) master officer and former player on the men’s basketball team, at a celebration of life service Oct. 16.
Anthony Joseph Allen Sr., who had served as a campus police officer since 1994, died Sept. 10 at 57 years old. Reflecting Allen’s devout Protestant faith, Rev. Ebony Grisom, the director of Protestant Life, and Rev. TauVaughn Toney, a Protestant chaplain in the Office of Campus Ministry, led the memorial service, which featured prayers, gospel music and words of remembrance from various campus leaders.
Fred Johnson, GUPD’s patrol operations commander, who worked alongside Allen for more than a decade, said Allen was an honest and exemplary person in all regards.
“What you saw is what you got, and what you got was one of the most caring, kindest, nicest and loving people that I’ve ever met in my life,” Johnson said at the memorial.
Joyce Pearson, a GUPD lieutenant who spoke on behalf of Associate Vice President of Public Safety Jay Gruber, said Allen’s 30 years of service to campus safety were centered around personal care for the Georgetown community.
“He believed that policing was about building relationships, not just about enforcing the law,” Pearson said at the memorial. “He took time to know the people he served, attending community events and engaging with students, faculty and staff.”
Allen worked in youth ministry throughout his life, joining Athletes in Action, a sports organization that combines youth spiritual growth with athletic growth, after graduating from Georgetown. He later became a minister and worked as an assistant pastor at Mount Horeb Baptist Church, again focused on youth ministry.
Pearson said Allen’s commitment to his faith and Christian values was evident in his day-to-day interactions on campus.
“His faith guided him in every aspect of his life,” Pearson said. “Anthony believed deeply in the power of kindness and forgiveness — principles that he embodied daily.”
“He attended church regularly, where he not only found joy, but also shared love with others. His faith inspired him to see good in everyone, even in challenging situations,” she added.
Conan N. Louis (SLL ’73, GRD ’78, LAW ’86), who spoke on behalf of Georgetown’s Black Alumni Council, a group that fosters connection between Black graduates and current students, said Allen had an impressive record as a student on and off the court, where he played as a forward for the men’s basketball team under coach John Thompson Jr. from 1986 to 1990.
“Anthony was a Top 20 recruit, and he played for Big John, who was not at all prone to hyperbole,” Louis said at the service. “John described Anthony as a damn decent man, a smart player, competitive, a team player. And importantly, in John’s own words, ‘just a good guy that you liked having around.’”
Toney said in his eulogy that Allen’s defining characteristic was his camaraderie with others, exemplified by his frequent visits to the Protestant Ministry office.
“He would simply say, with a smile, ‘I’m just stopping by to check on y’all,’ or he’d have a new officer with him and would say, ‘I just wanted them to know who y’all were and where your office is,’” Toney said at the memorial. “He cared about people. He cared about making connections. He cared about bringing people together.”
Roy Eddy, a GUPD communications officer who had known Allen since he was a student and had worked police shifts alongside him, said Allen was a mentor to younger officers in GUPD.
“I remember when he came on board at the university. He reached out to officers who were in trouble and needed just a little uplifting,” Eddy told The Hoya. “He was very good at that.”
Joe Pappalardo, a senior business manager in the university’s office of public safety, said Allen made an effort to connect with people beyond what his duties as an officer required.
“I remember I broke my ankle about two years ago, and he brought in these ankle weights for me. You know, little things like that,” Pappalardo told The Hoya. “He was always concerned about other people and how he can help them.”
Allen is survived by his wife, Laura; his children, Aniyah, Anthony Jr., Ava Elyse and Aiden Michael, some of whom attended the memorial; his brother and sister; and several nieces and nephews.
Louis said Allen epitomized the spirit of Georgetown and embodied the Jesuit value of “people for others.”
“He didn’t just strive toward the Georgetown ideal,” Louis said. “He lived it, serving as an exemplar for all of us and for everyone whose lives he touched.”
