Self-Professed ‘Apple Retail Store Enthusiast’ Gary Allen Passes Away

One of the things that I worry about the most is not having a hobby…a healthy passion to immerse myself in. Sure, I love technology, but it’s also my job. Gary Allen, a self-professed “Apple Retail Store Enthusiast,” passed away Sunday at age 67 after a fight with brain cancer, according to a report by the Washington Post. An interesting point that WaPo points out is that Allen wasn’t a fan of Apple’s products as much as he was of where they were sold to the public.

His bio on Twitter says it all: “Apple retail store enthusiast, traveling to celebrate the grand opening of new stores anywhere on earth.”

Screen Shot 2015-10-15 at 1.26.16 PMThe word “fanboy” gets thrown around a lot in the tech world, but Allen probably knew more about Apple’s retail maneuvers than most employees at Apple. His website, which is down today, ifoapplestore.com, was all about Apple’s newest stores. He’d also travel to most of the stores to experience them himself.

A smart person told me once that something is not a work of art until it has admirers. Admirers like Allen lend credence to the fact that Steve Jobs wanted Apple’s stores to be inviting, elegant and a place worth seeking out.

In Allen’s case, he certainly sought them out:

Thank you Gary Allen, for reminding us that it’s the little things in life that matter. Even if those little things reside in a happy little store that holds the hopes and dreams of so many of us in the technology world. Your sharp insights will live on.