Percy Allen II

Percy Allen II, 80, departed this life on Sunday, September 12, 2021 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He was born on April 7, 1941 in New Orleans, Louisiana to the late Percy Allen Sr. and Esther Allen. Percy was a United States Air Force Veteran and first began his illustrious career in the United States Air Force while stationed at Oscoda Air Force Base, Michigan.

After receiving his B.A. degree in Economics from Oakland University (Michigan) in 1973, Percy completed two summer internships at Detroit General Hospital. He matriculated from Cornell University and received his Master’s in Public Administration in 1975. His first health care professional position was at Parkview Memorial Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana as an Assistant Administrator from 1975-1982.  In 1982, he was recruited to Sinai Hospital of Detroit as the Vice President of Administration and served as Interim COO for three years. Percy relocated to New York to work for the New York Health and Hospitals Corporation at the corporate office and then as Executive Director (CEO) at North Central Bronx Hospital from 1986 to 1989. He served as the Vice President of Hospital Affairs/Chief Executive Officer at University Hospital of Brooklyn SUNY Health Science Center from 1989-1999. He retired from health care, so he thought. That same year, he was convinced to relocate to Baltimore, Maryland, to serve as the Chief Executive Officer for Bon Secours Baltimore Health System from 1999-2006. Percy continued to be an advisor, for many years, to Bon Secours Health System leaders after he departed from Baltimore.

Percy served as the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE) 14th President from 1991-1993 and has served on numerous boards and committees. Under his presidency, testimony was given before the White House Task Force on Health Care Reform in the Old Executive Mansion in Washington. D.C. under President Clinton. Percy negotiated the initial contract with ServiceMaster to fund NAHSE’s student scholarships and Abbott Laboratories and Baxter International became corporate partners. In 2010, Percy arranged for NAHSE’s President and President-Elect to travel to Washington, D.C., to testify in the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee under Committee Chairman Edolphus (Ed) Towns, Jr. (D-NY.) 

Percy has received numerous awards and recognitions.  In 2006, he was inducted into NAHSE’s Hall of Fame and received the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) President’s Award. In 2011, he was inducted into the Modern Healthcare Hall Fame. On May 5, 2012, he was the keynote speaker at Cornell University Sloan Program in Health Administration Wagner Memorial Dinner. His speech titled “Not Under My Watch” focused on the secrets for turning around ailing financial hospitals. In 2013, the American Hospital Association Center for Hospital and Healthcare Administration History and Health Research & Educational Trust printed Percy Allen II-In First Person: An Oral History. In 2014, The Biennial Percy Allen II ’75 Sloan Lecture in Urban Healthcare Leadership was established to bring to the Cornell University campus an accomplished and high-profile leader from the health care sector working to address the health care needs of the underserved in urban communities.  NAHSE named the Chapter of the Year Award the Percy Allen II Chapter of the Year Award. The New York Regional Chapter of NAHSE created the Percy Allen II, Senior Healthcare Leadership Award. It is given to individuals committed to mentoring, coaching, and developing persons of color to elevate their healthcare careers.

Though Percy had a distinguished career in healthcare management, his most significant accomplishment was behind the scenes, quietly guiding and advising early, mid-level, and senior-level careerists. He had a track record of recruiting and promoting Black healthcare executives. Percy was affectionately referred to as the “Godfather” for his sage counsel. When Percy spoke, everyone listened.  He served as a mentor to members of NAHSE, ACHE, and Sloan Program in Health Administration students and alumni. He was the consummate advocate for promoting Black healthcare executives and ensuring and developing healthcare services in underserved communities. He was true to his values and advocated for people of color, particularly Blacks, whether at the national and state level and in the Boardroom of corporations, hospitals, and communities he served. Percy was a remarkable trailblazer who always stood on the right side of justice, diversity, and access to high quality care.

In addition to his outstanding professional accomplishments, Percy was an avid golfer and a voracious art collector.

Percy was predeceased by his parents and two siblings, Sarah Ransom and Roger Allen, Sr. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Fay Malcolm Allen; children, Merrily M. Allen, Percy Allen III; five grandchildren, Narissa & Tiffany Littlejohn, Janice, Percy IV & Nelson Allen; siblings, Invee Burrell & Yolanda Allen and a host of other relatives, family and friends.

Services are scheduled for (Viewing) Friday, September 24, 2021, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Beach Funeral and Cremation Services, 4456 Bonney Road, Virginia Beach 23462. Celebration of Life, Saturday, September 25, 12:00 PM, Piney Grove Baptist Church, 2804 Holland Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23453.

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