Monday, June 15, 2026

A00218 - Royal Lester Allen III, Amherst College Class of 1985, Pingry School (Basking Ridge, New Jersey) Graduate, Harvard Business School M.B.A., Director of Business Development for The Danielle Ashley Group

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Danielle Ashley Group Loses Team Member Royal Allen

ByBritta Lee, Regional Content Editor



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PASSING OF TEAM MEMBER             ROYAL ALLEN

 The Danielle Ashley Group is saddened to announce the passing of its team member and friend, Royal Allen, director of business development. Allen played a major role in the growth of the company’s First Ladies Health Initiative, which has helped provide tens of thousands of free health screenings across the country.

Allen, 52, passed away of congestive heart failure New Year’s Day.

Allen, who was an entrepreneurial senior marketing executive and project developer and manager, began working at Danielle Ashley Group six years ago on the Chicago-based First Ladies Health Initiative, which the company founded. With his assistance, the initiative, comprised of 155 pastors’ wives, has expanded to five urban markets hosting annual Walgreens-sponsored First Ladies Health Days that have enabled more than 200,000 individuals in African-American and Hispanic communities to get free health screenings.

Through Allen’s efforts, the multi-denominational initiative has garnered support from more than 2,200 clinical volunteers and nearly 200 health care providers.

“Royal was a treasured colleague and friend who played an indispensable role with the First Ladies Health Initiative,” said Tracey Alston, founder of Danielle Ashley Group and executive director of the First Ladies Health Initiative. “His work made a difference in helping save lives in African-American and Latino communities. Our First Ladies Health Initiative family deeply mourns his loss. His family is in our prayers.”

“I am thankful for the contributions Royal made to the First Ladies Health Initiative,” said John Gremer, Walgreens director of Community Affairs. “His presence and contributions will be truly missed.”

Allen’s previous employers included Burrell Communications, Stedman Graham & Associates, The Leo Burnett Company and Kemper Lesnik Communications.

In addition he was a professional concert pianist and vocalist.

He received his MBA froaxm Harvard Graduate School of Business Management and earned dual B.A. degrees in economics and music from Amherst College.

He previously served as chair of the Auxiliary Board of the Chicago Academy of Sciences Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and marketing chair for the Harvard Business School African American Alumni Association.

A memorial service will be announced by Danielle Ashley Group and posted at www.danielleashley.com and www.FirstLadiesHealth.com.

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In Memory

Royal Lester Allen III passed away on Jan. 1. Royal is survived by Jeff Fortier, his husband of one year and loving and dedicated partner of 26 years. He is also survived by his cousin Bill Davis ’63. Royal was predeceased by his parents, Royal and Doris, and by his sister Gail.

Royal was a man of many passions and talents who greeted you with an infectious smile and regaled you with stories. With Royal, you were having fun, whether it was completing an economics problem set, watching TV in the Moore “pit” or seeing him perform in Buckley. From Chi Psi to the Glee Club, Royal lived life to its fullest.

After graduating from Amherst with a double major in economics and music, Royal joined First Boston Corp. in NYC. Subsequently he attended Harvard Business School where he obtained his M.B.A. in 1990 and met his life partner, Jeff.

Royal relocated to Chicago and began a successful career as an advertising executive, including stints at Leo Burnett, Equinox Advertising and Burrell Communications. In 1998, Royal founded Royal Allen Marketing Partners/RAM Events where he co-produced the 2004 Black Creativity Gala. Royal was also proud of his work managing the successful growth of the First Ladies Health Initiative, which provided free health screenings to more than 35,000 people. Royal was honored with the 2014 Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvil Award of Excellence, which recognizes the best public relations programs of the year and the highest standards of performance.

Royal was a gifted concert pianist and vocalist, known for his gracious manners, generosity of spirit and kindness to all. He was a bright, gentle and loving soul. He added light and laughter to all the rooms he entered, and heaven will surely crackle with his humor now that he’s there.

Philip Rotner ’85
Christopher Coons ’85

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Deceased January 1, 2016

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Contact

No data available

Family

Amherst Relatives

Personal

No data available

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Professional

Employment Information

    Former

    • Director of Business Development
      The Danielle Ashley Group
      Start:
      01/2010
      End:
      12/2015
    • Account Director
      Burrell Communications
      Start:
      01/2007
      End:
      02/2015
    • Principal
      Royal Allen Marketing Partners
      Start:
      01/1999
      End:
      12/2015
    • Sr Acct Dir
      Kemper Lesnik Communications
      Start:
      01/1996
      End:
      01/1999
    • Account Exec
      Equinox Advertising
      Start:
      01/1992
      End:
      01/1996
    • Client Srv Assc
      Leo Burnett USA
      Start:
      09/1990
      End:
      01/1992
    • Summer Intern
      Viacom, Inc.
      Start:
      06/1989
      End:
      08/1989
    • Finl Analyst
      The First Boston Corporation
      Start:
      01/1985
      End:
      01/1988
    • Research Analys
      Paribas Corp
      End:
      01/1988
    • Cons
      Olnec Corp
      End:
      01/1988

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    Amherst

    Reunion Class

    • 1985

    Graduation Year

    • 1985

    Major(s)

    • Economics; Music

    Prizes

    • Lerner Piano Prize

    Other Academic

    Secondary Schools

    • Pingry School

    Higher Ed

    • Harvard Business School
      Field of Study:
      Business
      Degree:
      Master of Bus Admin
      Year:
      1990

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    Amherst

    • Moore Dormitory

    Volunteering

    • Alumni Fund
      Role:
      Associate Agent
      End:
      December 2015

    Athletics

    • Men's Track Outdoor
    • Men's Track Indoor

    Fraternity

    • Chi Psi Fraternity

    Extracurricular Activities

    • Amherst College Glee Club
    • Robert Frost Library Student Worker

    Post-Graduate

    Awards/ Recognition

    • Royal's team was recently honored with the Public Relations Society of America's 2014 Silver Anvil Award of Excellence.

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