Obituary: Allan Roy Knott, 81, Of Trumbull

Information via Cyril F. Mullins Funeral Home

Allan Roy Knott of Trumbull died at home on Monday, March 13 with his family at his side after a long illness. He was 81.

Predeceased by his parents Victoria and Roy, Allan is survived by his wife Diane, son Simon, daughter Fiona Phelan (Edmund); grandchildren Colleen Phelan (Dennis McGinley), Trevor Phelan, Aine Knott and Kieran Knott; and his great-granddaughter Claire Phelan McGinley.

Born in Inverness, Scotland on January 14, 1942, Allan had a rich and full life. At the age of 4, Allan moved to Ismailia, Egypt when his father was stationed there with the British Merchant Marine during World War II. After three years the family returned to Plymouth, England on a troop ship at the end of the war.

Allan was particularly proud of his education as a student at the prestigious Devonport High School for Boys. He met his wife Diane at a youth church group in Plymouth and they were married for 62 years.

Allan was a life-long learner and instilled that love in his family. He enjoyed music, counting the Beatles, Beethoven, Gilbert and Sullivan, KC and the Sunshine Band, the Pointer Sisters, Edvard Grieg, the Rolling Stones and Rimsky-Korsakov among his favorites. His musical resume includes an early stint as manager of a wedding band – The Beau Line.

Allan was well read and was a frequent patron at the Trumbull Library. He enjoyed reading The Economist and Guardian Weekly as well as a diverse genre of novels. He was also an avid photographer who, as a young man, took professional wedding photographs and developed them in his self-made darkroom. His 35mm Pentax was among his treasures, but he also embraced the digital age.

If something was broken, Allan would figure out how to fix it. His soldering iron and array of carpentry tools were prized possessions. From the rebuilding of a carburetor with Simon in the kitchen, to building from scratch his first personal computer and showing Fiona how to build hers, Allan was always tinkering with something. He was a self-taught carpenter and spent hours sanding, planing, polishing and waxing furniture and building custom cabinetry for his home.

As a young father, Allan attended college at night earning a degree in chemistry that would open many doors for him including a position with the Winfrith Atomic Energy Establishment in Dorset, England and the British Home Office Forensic Lab. He joined Perkin Elmer Corp. in the late sixties and worked for the company for more than 40 years. While employed there, the family emigrated to America and established roots in Trumbull.

In the early 80s, Allan seized an opportunity to open a Perkin Elmer office in Hong Kong and establish a foothold in China for the company. He often spoke fondly of the friends and places he travelled during his three years in Hong Kong. Throughout his career and into retirement, Allan and Diane travelled the world leading them to favorite places such as the Azores, India, Italy, Malta, Portugal, South Africa and often back to England.

The family would like to thank the Yale Transplant team, especially Dr. Michael Schilsky who cared for Allan before, during and after his successful transplant more than a decade ago, and also Dr. Daniel Sica of Trumbull his primary care physician. Many thanks to Pat from The Key and Julie from Hartford Healthcare hospice who cared for Allan at home and the care team on 9.1 at St. Vincent's Medical Center.

Friends are invited to join the family for a gathering of remembrance on Saturday, March 18 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Cyril F. Mullins Funeral Home, 399 White Plains Road, Trumbull, CT 06611.

For more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.mullinsfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages friends to become an organ donor www.donatelife.net or make a donation to the www.bridgeportrescuemission.org, a cause Allan supported over the years.