Former city health official Allen dies

Wilma Allen, former head of the city's Public Health Department, died June 6 after a drawn-out battle with scleroderma, a rare skin disease.

Allen was 57, and was a city employee for 17 years.

"She was a visionary, but on the other hand she was extremely practical," said former colleague Kelly Russell.

Russell is a consultant for the Community Health Alliance of Pasadena, which Allen was instrumental in founding as a primary healthcare clinic in Northwest Pasadena for both children and adults.

Russell said CHAP is the only federally qualified health center in the area to provide care for low-income and uninsured residents.

Takashi Wada, the city's public health officer, said Allen served as a fundamental part of several public health initiatives, including the Pasadena Healthcare Link, a free and continuous telephone line for advice and assistance from nurses. The service continues to field hundreds of calls.

Wada worked with Allen over three years. During that time, she became a personal friend and mentor, he said.

Deborah Silver worked in the health department with Allen for 10 years. She said her professional development depended a lot on Allen.

"She believed so much in equity and social justice," Silver said of Allen. "Those values went out to the people that worked for her."

Allen studied at Beloit College and the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

She is survived by her husband, Walter; two adult children, Binti and Bryan; two sisters, Charletta Lee and Jacqueline Parker; and three grandchildren.

A funeral will be held at

11 a.m. today at Faithful Central Bible Church, 400 W. Florence Blvd., Inglewood.