20 Questions for...

Loraine Allen

Dave Spinelli

Lorrain Allen
Contract negotiator, historian
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany (emigrated in 1955)
Years in NL: 40

• Number of siblings: zero
• Number of children / grandchildren: 1 / 4
• Number of private club memberships in NL: Two
• Favorite Food: Turkey
• Favorite vice: Raspberry Chambord
• Favorite movie director: John Carpenter
• Most satisfied doing: Being with people
• Personal goal for the year: Not to become too cynical
• How do you take you coffee? Cream only, but I'm a tea drinker
• Little known fact: 2nd female president of the Thames Club (2nd oldest private club in CT)
• First impression on New London: In 1967 I died and went to hell, but it's grown on me
• Love about New London: It's a city. I'm a city person. The diversity. It's more vibrant.
• Books you're currently reading: Treasury of Royal Scandals by Michael Parquhar
• Can't live without: My favorite books (by Saki and Dorothy Parker)
• Usually doing at 4PM on Saturday: Eating pizza and watching movies with my grandsons
• Grateful for: Living in the United States (especially as a woman)
• Advice to the younger generation: Vote. When I became a citizen, that's what the judge said. So I always vote.
• Hope for New London: That the politicians would get out of the way and let developers do their work.(residential real estate developers)
• Most influential person in your life: My Uncle Chuck; great guy. When I was growing up [in NYC] he took me to movies, ballets, symphonies. He got me a library card and got me to read. He told me, ”Everything you need to know you can learn from a book.“
• What question do you wish I had asked: About human nature, and changes in perspective which only come with years of experience. Like Donatelli's two different Virgin Mary pieces. One when he was young, the other when he was old.