Obituary of Allene Mae Cash

Allene Cash, longtime resident of Boulder, passed away in her home on December 29, 2014, after a long and fearless battle with cancer. Born Allene Mae Odom to Eva and Shadrach Odom of Brewton, Ala. On May 7, 1933, she was raised in Princeton, Fla. Along with her four siblings, Glendall, Madeline, Gertrude, and Lois. She graduated in 1951 from nearby Redland High School, where she excelled in academics and band. Her talent on the French horn resulted in a scholarship offer to the University of Michigan, but she eventually enrolled at the University of Miami, where she graduated in three years with a degree in Business Administration (1954). Allene married childhood friend Warren Alton Cash in Princeton, Fla. On February 19, 1955, and together they had three children, Warren Anthony (Tony) Cash, Pamela J. Cash (Nickoles), and Christopher P. Cash. The divorced in 1965. Eager to expand her horizons beyond rural South Florida, Allene began a career as a substitute teacher in Charleston, S.C. and soon moved to Arcadia, Calif. Upon her young family’s move to Boulder, Colo, in 1964, she continued to substitute teach briefly in Westminster, Colo, but soon embarked upon a new career in real estate, where she thrived and formed numerous lifelong friendships with her clients. She excelled at listening and understanding their needs, and had an expert knowledge of the Boulder market informed by 50 years of experience with Ken Penfold Realty, Spruce Realty, Colorado Landmark Realtors, Allene Cash Properties, and Mock Realty. Always an independent and adventurous soul, Allene got her first taste of travel by traversing the country solo courtesy of a railroad pass provided by her father on the occasion of her graduation from high school. Her future travels would take her to England, Wales (a favorite destination), Ireland, Italy, several Western and East European capitals, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia, China, Africa, and many other fascinating places. She especially enjoyed visiting Prague, walking the Great Wall of China, and observing her favorite animal, the elephant, in its natural environment during an African safari. Inspiried by her childhood musical mentors, Allene developed a lifelong love of opera and classical music, which led her to opera houses around the world, countless visits to performances of Opera Colorado and Boulder’s Colorado Music Festival, and a term as President of the Opera Buffs of Boulder. Allene’s house on Mapleton Hill showcased a vibrant and beautiful garden that attracted several colorful species of resident and transient birds, squirrels, chipmunks, deer, bear, and the occasional appreciative passerby. She is survived by a sister, Madeline Prothero of Shreveport, La., her three children, twin granddaughters Tai Mallory Cash and Ariel Tara Cash (Gerstner) of Longmont, Colo., and her great granddaughter, Ilyana Allene Gerstner, also of Longmont, Colo. A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at the Chautauqua Community House’s Grand Assembly Room on January 17, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to the CU Opera Scholarship Fund in the College of Music Program at the University of Colorado through www.cufund.org or University of Colorado Foundation, P.O. Box 17126, Denver, CO 80217-9155.