By Rich Pollack
DELRAY BEACH — Tony Allerton lived a good life — and helped thousands of others do the same.
Best known in Delray Beach as the longtime executive director of The Crossroads Club, Mr. Allerton shepherded the organization for decades as it grew to host more than 700 people a day in 12-step programs. He died Sept. 1, a few weeks shy of his 97th birthday.
A resident of Delray Beach since the late 1950s, Mr. Allerton was long synonymous with The Crossroads Club, yet many who were greeted with a friendly assurance by “the old guy by the door” never knew the powerful positive impact he had on the recovery community.
And he preferred it that way. Described by people familiar with his work as a “beacon of hope for others,” Mr. Allerton knew firsthand how difficult overcoming addiction could be.
A recovering alcoholic who grew up with two alcoholic parents, he spent most of his first 54 years drinking. He spent the last 43 years avoiding alcohol and making sure there was a safe place for those who went through the same battles he did. He continued to go to work at Crossroads almost every day, well into his 90s.
In a 2018 interview with Delray Beach magazine, Mr. Allerton talked about how glad he was to have a chance to be a positive force.
“The fact that the good Lord allowed me to be an integral part of the recovery effort in Delray Beach is a blessing,” he said. “It’s given me an opportunity to see people who are struggling with addiction and watch them be reborn.”
Mr. Allerton is survived by his daughters Tracy Allerton and Mitchell “Mimi” Allerton; his son, Colby Allerton; his son’s wife, Nina; and two grandchildren, Zachary and June.
Mr. Allerton was proudest of his family, but he was also proud of the 40-year coin he earned three years ago signifying his sobriety.
Mr. Allerton was also an active member of the community over the years — first as a successful stockbroker and later as a real estate agent.
He served as president or in a leadership role of nonprofit organizations including the Delray Beach Rotary Club, the Delray Beach Playhouse, the Lake Ida Property Owners Association and of course, The Crossroads Club. He was also chairman of the Delray Beach Drug Task Force, the Delray Beach Community Chest and treasurer of the Drug Abuse Foundation.
Born George Milton Allerton IV on Sept. 23, 1928, in Waterbury, Connecticut, to a long-established family, his early ancestors were among those who came over on the Mayflower. He was a proud descendent of Noah Webster, best known for creating Webster’s Dictionary.
Mr. Allerton attended the Taft private school and Georgetown University, where he graduated with a degree in business administration. He played hockey while at Georgetown and was on the tennis and golf teams.
He joined the U.S. Navy in 1950, serving as a lieutenant on the USS Mullany, a destroyer.
His quick wit, mischievous streak and contagious laugh were trademarks, but those who know him best say that his most important trait was making those around him feel special.
“I think the secret to his longevity was that he has found his true calling and has been able to fashion a life for himself that fulfills that calling on his own terms,” his daughter Tracy said in a 2018 Coastal Star story. “I watch him and marvel at what a difference one person can make in so many lives.”
A service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 10 at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, 840 George Bush Blvd. Donations in his name can be sent to The Crossroads Club, 1700 Lake Ida Road, Delray Beach, FL 33445.
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