Kenneth Harry Mallen, a life-time resident of Poughquag, passed away Thursday, November 4, 2021 at the age of 100. He was the loving husband of the late Helen Mallen, who passed in 2017.
“Kenny” to his family and friends, he was born in Long Island, NY on January 17, 1921 to Harry and Jessie (Davis) Mallen. Kenny graduated from Pawling High School and attended State University College at Oswego to study Vocational Education.
Kenny is a veteran of World War II entering on December 12, 1941. He was assigned to the 658th Amphibian Tractor Battalion. For his service, he earned a Bronze Star, American Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, and the Philippines Liberation Medal with one Bronze Service Star. He left the Army with the rank of Technical Sergeant.
Kenny was a member of the Beekman Fire Department from 1939 to the present where he served as Chief for twenty-one years and on the Beekman Fire District Board of Commissioners for fifty-one years consecutively. He was also on the Town of Beekman Zoning Board of Appeals, and a member of the Harlem Valley Masonic Lodge 827.
Kenny was a Vocational Instructor (automotive) at Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville, New York. He retired in 1983 after thirty-five years. He also found time to bulldoze foundations, ponds, and driveways for many homes throughout Beekman and Poughquag. For recreation, he could be found hunting in the Clove or fishing at Nuke Lake and once the snow came, he enjoyed snowmobiling and even snowplowing driveways.
Kenny enjoyed working on all sorts of motors as he was an excellent mechanic. We always said he could fix anything although he would remark “I can fix anything but a broken heart”.
He is survived by his son John Mallen and his wife, Cecilia, of Red Hook, NY, two daughters, Suanne Monteiro and her husband, Andrew, of Chatham, NY and Theresa Stack and her husband, Richard, of Amherst, NH, three grandchildren, Catherine & Ryan Stack and Alicia Monteiro; his nephew Robert Mallen; and many other nieces and nephews.
Family and friends may pay their respects Thursday, November 11th and Friday, November 12th from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM at the Beekman Fire Station, Poughquag. The Masons will conduct a service at the firehouse Thursday at 6 PM and the Beekman Fire Department will conduct a service Friday at 7 PM.
A memorial service will be conducted at the Beekman Fire Station on Saturday, November 13th at 1 PM, with burial to follow in Beekman Cemetery, Poughquag.
All CDC protocols will be observed.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Memory of Kenny may be made to the Beekman Fire Department, 316 Beekman Poughquag Road, Poughquag, NY 12570.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Horn & Thomes, Inc. Funeral Home, 83 East Main Street, Pawling, NY 845-855-3550.
