Allen Overland
On January 23, 2015, Guy Allen Overland (commonly known as Allen) passed away as a result of complications stemming from Systemic Capillary Leak Syndrome (SCLS) at Virginia Hospital Center. This rare disease can cause severe swelling that can damage limbs and vital organs. Allen, 54, was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. He leaves behind his mother Cynthia Overland of Fairfax; his three siblings, John Overland, Laura Maun Garcia, and Linda Stewart, all of the Tampa Bay, Florida area; and his partner of 16 years, Jim Houser of Arlington. Allen and Jim met through a mutual friend who was in a beach house with Jim in Rehoboth Beach. They continued to visit Rehoboth Beach even after Allen’s illness required him to wear braces on his feet at the beach.
Allen managed libraries at international organizations in Washington, DC, over the past 21 years, including the Export-Import Bank of the United States and the National Endowment for Democracy. The National Democracy Resource Center plans to name its Democracy Resource Center after Allen. Allen was active in library and international organizations in Washington DC, and was the originator and coordinator for the Washington International Librarian’s Group. He held master’s degrees from both Catholic University and American University. He received his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, where he was president of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.
A celebration of life was held at Foundry United Methodist Church, in Washington, DC Sunday, February 22, 2015.
In lieu of flowers, his loved ones request that a donation be made in his memory to either the National Organization for Rare Disorders (rarediseases.org/about/support), an organization that funds research and treatment for patients with rare diseases like SCLS; or Doorways for Women and Families classy.org/checkout/donation.