Dr. Allen Will Keep On Inspiring
The way George Bernard Shaw saw it, his life belonged to the whole community. He considered it a privilege to live in service to others and he wanted to be “thoroughly used up” when he died.
Dr. Welzie “Wes” Allen was much like Shaw in spirit. And while he was far from used up when he died in a boat-related accident 10 days ago, the Spokane pediatrician had lived a life that exemplified the humanitarian convictions Shaw embraced.
No surprise, therefore, that more than 1,000 people attended a memorial service for Allen at the Spokane Opera House.
Nor would it be surprising if among the 1,000 were many who never knew Allen, never had personal contact with him but nevertheless recognized the service they had received from him as members of his community.
As a pediatrician and pediatric cardiologist, Allen soothed the lives of numerous patients and their families. But the work he did to improve Spokane’s medical facilities and services and to oversee some of their functions affected countless others who never heard his name. He helped make the Spokane area a better, healthier place for everyone who lives here.
And not just Spokane. His selfless work with Healing the Children extended the reach of his compassion to underprivileged children facing health difficulties in impoverished Third World countries.
As father and husband, as healer and humanitarian, and as citizen, Welzie Allen exhibited a depth of character that is rare.
… but not unique.
There are others. They aren’t saints as much as stewards, and they assume responsibility for helping to keep the community whole and its members provided for. Like Shaw, they think of the task as a privilege rather than an obligation.
Their names don’t ordinarily generate universal recognition because they don’t crave fame.
They undertake all their work, whether it’s for charity or to earn a living, with authentic caring. They make time for themselves and their families, too. They make full use of their capacities.
The source of such values frequently is a role model - parent, colleague, mentor or public figure - who inspires a higher level of values.
Welzie Allen happened to be a physician. But if he had been an engineer instead, or a carpenter or a teacher or a journalist or a businessman, it is hard to imagine that the inner character of the man wouldn’t have impelled him just as urgently to use his talents and skills in service to humanitarian causes.
Shaw saw life as a “splendid torch” that he could carry for a while, make burn as brightly as possible and then hand on to the next generation.
As the community that Allen cared for reflects on his life and contributions, his example quite likely will kindle a similar flame in other admiring souls. And the torch will blaze on.