Port of Allyn appoints Dennis as interim director

LeAnn Dennis will act as Port of Allyn interim director until a new executive director can be hired to replace Lary Coppola, who died Sept. 30. The Port board voted unanimously to appoint Dennis at an Oct. 9 special meeting.

Coppola was the executive director of the port since 2015.

Coppola died only a few weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, according to a statement by the Washington Public Ports Association.

“Anyone who met Lary could see he was an honest and genuine person and a true professional, not to mention an avid supporter of local business, the communities in which he lives and worked, and of course of our ports. Dedicated public servants are hard to find, and Lary will be greatly missed. We are thinking of his family and wishing them comfort and peace during this time of sorrow,” WPPA Executive Director Eric ffitch said in a statement.

“Lary loved and had a passion for this job, for the port,” Coppola’s wife, Dee, said in a statement read by Commissioner Judy Scott during the port’s Oct. 2 meeting.

“Lary’s going to be greatly missed,” Scott said.

The commission will have a special meeting via Zoom at 2 p.m. today to discuss the executive director position.