Allen Gitlin, 96, died peacefully on February 14, 2025 at his home in Mesquite, Nevada.

Allen was born on March 13, 1928, the son of Hilda and Isidore. In his youth, along with his siblings, Allen worked on the family farm while attending school in Colchester, Connecticut. As a young man, Allen moved to New York City for work and adventure before enlisting in the U.S. military. With a young family stateside, Allen proudly served in the Korean War from 1950 to 1956, stationed in Japan and Korea. After the war, Allen returned to the US, resettling on Long Island, New York. He soon found his place in the sun with his keen business acumen in NYC’s Garment Center, becoming an astute industry leader, cofounding various prosperous textile companies. Ultimately, he partnered with his wife, Julie Francis, to form a successful design enterprise on Seventh Avenue.

Allen retired to Boca Raton, Florida, where he enjoyed golf, football, and the occasional blackjack table. He ardently maintained long-lasting friendships and was a natural host, happiest when surrounded by family and friends, entertaining. Not one to be idle, Allen co-founded one last company, this time in Florida’s real estate industry, which flourished for years. On one vacation, Allen and Julie rented an RV with friends for a trip to Montana. The experience sparked a new way of life, and soon, with an RV of their own, they roamed from Florida to Alaska enjoying life on the road. This love for travel led Allen to leave Florida and settle in the beauty of the West, where his generous spirit thrived.

Allen is predeceased by his parents and his sisters, Dorie Ben and Rose Scher. He is also predeceased by his brother Jack Gitlin, his sister-in-law, Judy Gitlin, his sister-in-law Virginia Jinette, and son-in-law, Bruce Cooper.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Julie Gitlin (formerly Francis), and his sister Elaine Beatrice Gitlin, of Florida. He is also survived by his daughter and son-in-law Hilda Gitlin Cooper and Gregory Barber, his daughter Elyse Gitlin Pimsler, his grandson and his wife Jonathan and Juliana Cooper, his granddaughter and her husband, Leigh Pimsler and Zach Marzouk, his great-granddaughter, Sloan Marzouk. He also leaves his stepchildren, Audrey, Tim, Lorraine and Robert along with their children, Olivia, Nathaniel, Henry and Isaiah. Additionally, he is survived by his nephew, Eric Gitlin, and his wife, Alison Gitlin, a niece Susan Gitlin Burkhoff, and her husband, Jeff Burkoff, and nephew Eliot Scher, and his wife, Ginny Munoz; and many grandnephews.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2025, 12:00pm, at Robert Schoem’s Menorah Chapel, Paramus, New Jersey followed by burial at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge, New Jersey.

The service will be livestreamed at https://a2elivestream.com/allen-gitlin/

Memorial donations may be made in Allen’s name to The American Cancer Society.