When Doris Lapporte recently shared an article about her husband, Allen, with a longtime friend, the woman began to cry. 

She had known Allen since before he and Doris married and had celebrated birthdays and holidays with them for decades. She knew him as kind and thoughtful, but she had never known the extent of his charitable giving. 

“There’s no way that I would have ever known,” she told Doris. 

That was exactly how Allen lived. 

“You’d never know what he was doing,” Doris said. “He was very humble.” 

The Ark was among the organizations Allen quietly supported for decades. He spoke of being involved in The Ark’s earliest years and remained a generous donor throughout his life, building a relationship with the organization that would ultimately become part of the legacy he left behind. 

Always Learning 

Allen Lapporte, z”l, was born in 1926 in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood. He served in the United States Navy during World War II, and later worked for his family’s business, Bar Food Products. 

Doris first met Allen when she came to the United States from Vienna. Her family lived in a building owned by Allen’s parents, and the two families remained close. Doris and Allen eventually married and spent more than four wonderful decades together. 

She remembers Allen as quiet, well-read, and endlessly curious. Their home held an extensive library covering Jewish history, the Holocaust, art, travel, and more. Even after an eye disease made reading difficult, Allen continued reading using a large-screen magnifier. 

“He couldn’t get enough,” Doris said. “He could never stop learning.” 

He was just as interested in people. A walk through his Skokie neighborhood could turn into an afternoon of conversation. Sometimes Doris would wonder where he had gone, only to hear from a neighbor that Allen had stopped by to talk, share a meal, or have a schnapps. 

“The community and the neighborhood became his friends,” Doris said. “They became family.” 

Giving Was Personal 

Allen’s commitment to Jewish life began with his family. His parents were active in Jewish communal organizations, and his father served as a cantor. That connection stayed with him throughout his life. 

When Allen and Doris traveled, he sought out local synagogues and learned about the Jewish history of the places they visited. At home, he visited Jewish schools to speak with students, rabbis, and educators. 

“There was no such thing as just writing a check,” Doris said. “It was more personal than that.” 

For more than 60 years, Allen supported organizations focused on Jewish education, health care, and community services. He wanted to understand their work, but he had little interest in recognition. 

“He never came home and said, ‘Look what I did,’” Doris recalled. “He did it because it mattered to him.” 

Allen also lived simply. Doris remembers a beige winter coat held together by a large safety pin. When she suggested he replace it, Allen didn’t see the point. The coat still worked. 

Carrying His Values Forward 

Allen passed away on October 31, 2024. Through his estate, he left a generous gift to The Ark as part of a broader plan benefiting several institutions that reflected the causes closest to him. 

His gift will help The Ark continue providing food, housing assistance, health care, employment services, mental health support, and other services to Jewish individuals and families across Chicagoland. 

During Allen’s final days, Doris promised him she would continue supporting the causes that mattered to him. Sharing his story has become part of keeping that promise. 

After losing both Allen and their granddaughter, Alexandra, Doris has thought deeply about what it means to remember someone. 

“The only way is to say their name,” she said. 

For Doris, telling Allen’s story is not simply about recognizing the size of his gift. She hopes his example encourages others to think about their own role in caring for the community. 

“What I want most is for Allen’s legacy to live on,” she said. “If others read about his gift and it inspires them to think, ‘Why couldn’t I do that?’, then it has a double impact. It keeps his memory alive, and it inspires generosity in others.” 

Allen spent a lifetime giving without asking for recognition. Through The Ark and the other people and organizations he cared about, that generosity will continue long after his name is spoken. 

To learn more about including The Ark in your estate plans, visit arkchicago.org/legacysociety.