07/16/2025
In Memoriam
BCIL notes the passing last week of Bill Allan, a founder of the Disability Policy Consortium (DPC), one of BCIL’s closest allies.
Bill organized, advocated, and agitated for good causes, notably dedicating countless hours to the DPC in its formative stages. BCIL collaborated often with Bill, feeling his passion and sincere friendship in the work of disability rights.
The obituary below provides more background on his life as well as information on visiting hours and his funeral service.
Our thoughts are with Bill and his family, including his wife, Mary Lou Maloney, a superstar disability advocate and activist in her own right.
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WILLIAM ALLAN Obituary https://www.mannandrodgers.com/obituary/WILLIAM-ALLAN
William Francis Allan III
September 11, 1941 – July 11, 2025
William Francis Allan III, of Jamaica Plain, passed away peacefully in his sleep of natural causes at his home in Roslindale, MA, on Friday, June 11, 2025, with his beloved wife, Mary Lou Maloney, by his side. He was 83.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, on September 11, 1941, Bill was the son of William Francis Allan II and Ruth Hoseley Allan. He was raised in Schenectady, New York, and went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree from Gordon College. He later completed a Master of Arts in Political Science from Northeastern University.
Bill dedicated his life to community activism and public service, especially within Boston’s inner-city neighborhoods. In the early 1990s, he founded the Hyde Square Task Force, a now-thriving nonprofit committed to empowering youth in the Hyde Square area of Jamaica Plain. Through after-school programs, educational initiatives, and housing advocacy, the organization continues to reflect his deep belief in justice, opportunity, and community. Bill led the initiative to establish a temporary skating rink at the Stony Brook T station, addressing a neighborhood need that continues to be met today through the nonprofit Friends of the Kelly Rink.
Alongside his wife Mary Lou, Bill co-founded the Disability Policy Consortium (DPC) of Massachusetts, which has become the state’s leading disability rights organization. He served as its Executive Director from 2003 to 2010, helping to shape policy, conduct community-based research, and lead successful grassroots advocacy campaigns. In 2012, the DPC honored Bill, Mary Lou, and Mayor Thomas M. Menino with a special Award of Honor for their visionary contributions—a legacy that continues today through an annual award given in their names.
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Mary Lou Maloney, and his children: Scot Patrick Allan, Lindsay Eileen Allan, Linda Gunn Garnett, and Lucy Lucero. He was a proud grandfather to Isabelle Garnett, Henry Garnett, Princesa Diaz, Christian Lucero, Julian Lucero, and Sasha Lucero.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday, July 18, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Mann & Rodgers Funeral Home, 44 Perkins Street, Jamaica Plain. A Church Service will follow on Saturday at 11:00 AM at St. John's Episcopal Church, 1 Roanoke Ave, Jamaica Plain.
In lieu of flowers, the family is establishing a trust in Bill’s honor to benefit the organizations he loved, including the Hyde Square Task Force, the Disability Policy Consortium, and other community partners.
Bill was a proud Bostonian whose tireless work left a lasting mark on the city and its people. His legacy of justice, advocacy, and compassion lives on in the lives he touched and the communities he helped build.
