Date of Birth
March 24, 1984
Date of Death
November 2, 2023
Location
Anchorage, Alaska
Cause of Death
Amniotic Fluid Embolism
Who She Was
Her Story
Allison (Allie) Gillum, 39, of Juneau, Alaska, died peacefully Nov 2, 2023, in Anchorage, with her sister by her side. Allison suffered an extremely rare, catastrophic medical condition called amniotic fluid embolism during labor. Baby Emma was safely delivered by emergency C section. Tragically, Allie never regained consciousness.
Allison was born March 24, 1984, in Princeton, NJ, grew up in Pennington, and graduated in 2002 from Hopewell Valley Central High School. At Skidmore College, she was co-captain of the Swim Team, majored in psychology and environmental studies, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 2006. She attended the Weitzman School of Design at University of Pennsylvania, receiving her Master of City Planning in 2010, with a concentration in Land Use & Environmental Planning, the Gaia Award (for excellence in environmental planning), and the Ann Louise Strong Leadership Award.
Allison was a passionate advocate for conservation of land, nature, and wildlife. After serving in AmeriCorps, she worked for land trusts in New Hampshire and Alaska, becoming Executive Director in 2015 of the Southeast Alaska Land Trust, in Juneau. Her tenure left SEAL Trust with stewardship of many more properties, enhancements to lands already held, and a strong vision for the future. In 2021, Allie joined the U.S. Forest Service, where she was a part of Team Alaska as a realty specialist, and most recently the Alaska Lands Team Leader.
Allie was an athlete, who enjoyed long walks with her dog, Juniper, running in the annual Klondike Road Relay, swimming, SCUBA diving, and competitive trap shooting.
Her highest priority, Allison was a tireless, dedicated mother, bringing her considerable humor, patience, love, and experience as a strong, spirited child to her care for her hilarious, impossibly bright daughter. She was president of the board of her daughter’s Montessori School, where she was a beloved mentor and helped institute innovative changes to improve the school’s sustainability.
Allison was a true force of nature, who burned brightly for her thirty nine years. The light and warmth she radiated attracted many friends, who gravitated to her kindness, thoughtfulness, enthusiasm, and loving spirit.
Allison is survived by her parents, Amanda and Bill Gillum, a sister, Jessalyn Gillum, two young daughters, Jessalyn and Emma Miller-Gillum, and their father, Abner Atlee Miller. She also leaves behind loving extended family/cousins, lifelong friends, and loyal communities she helped create wherever she went.