It is with great shock and sadness that we learned of the passing of Equilease founder and President Allen Abbott. He passed away on Saturday, July 29th. He leaves behind his wife and two children.
Many of our customers have arranged their leasing through Allen and Equilease over the years, and everyone knew he was "the guy" for leases for computer, photo and video equipment in Toronto.
From the time DV Shop opened in 2001 and throughout all of the 16 years that we've been open, we've always appreciated the support Allen extended to our business and the many thoughtful Equilease gifts we received at Christmas, especially in those lean early years. There was never a happier sound back in the early days of the DV Shop than Allen's voice on the telephone saying he'd completed another lease for us.
DV Dude actually met Allen in 1989 just after graduating from film school while arranging his first lease for an Apple Mac Classic and Laser printer combo back in 1989. That old Mac Classic still boots and is still on display at the DV Shop.
Leasing people are often very reserved and corporate to deal with but not Allen. He was certainly a character, with a big personality. Everyone at the DV Shop enjoyed their conversations with him over the years - he had a great sense of humour, and loved to tell stories. He was a hustler, always pushing, always trying to get the deal done. A true mensch.
Memorial donations can be made to the Kidney Foundation of Canada.
