I met Ellie in 1991 when I went to work at St. Mary's Center. We worked together to do fundraising and many other projects over the years. I was the preschool director and she became the executive director of the center. She was always so supportive of her staff as we struggled to provide services with very limited budgets. We remained friends after she left St. Mary's and I will miss her so much. She was a very interesting person--brilliant, driven by an intense social conscience, and very kind, patiently supporting me through various crises. I was always so impressed by the way her children cared for Ellie, providing homes for her on both coasts. Her spirit lives on in them.

Ellie was a generous, kind soul and my god-mother in seminary. She taught me so much about life and cared for my well being. I loved her Boston accent and she introduced me to the Red Sox and got a group of us to go to a game when they played in Oakland, CA. We sat in the cheap seats as we were all seminarians on limited budgets.  But Ellie chauffeured us in her little blue Subaru everywhere. I have so many good memories of seminary and Ellie is part of many of them. God bless her memory.

I met Ellie shortly after I moved to Westfield in 1966. Her youngest daughter and my son were baptized at the same time. In the late sixties and early seventies, we taught junior high students at church, organized several candidate nights, and advocated for social justice causes at church and in the community.
I was so happy to find another woman interested in current affairs and committed to making changes. She was an intellectual breath of fresh air for me when I was making the adjustment of working to being a stay at home mom.
We had many interesting conversations over the years about the state of our nation and world. I'll always remember her hosting an election night get together for friends on the night Richard Nixon was elected President.
Later on as we both returned to work, I was a social worker for the Department of Child Welfare at the same time she was a lawyer for the department. Sometimes we were involved in the same cases.
Once she moved to California, I did not see her as much, but we kept in contact with Christmas cards and visits when she returned to Massachusetts. In a way, it was good that my last time to be with her was at her 80th birthday party. It was a wonderful day to be there with her and her family.
She was truly an amazing woman who was not afraid to accept challenges - law school. divinity school, a move across the country from her home of many years, and willingness to reach out to others in her employment and personal life.  Thank you, Ellie, for letting me a part of your life.
Judy Foard-Giucastro

"Listen more often to things, than to beings
Listen more often to things, than to beings
Tis the ancestors' breath when the fire's voice is heard,
Tis the ancestors' breath in the voice of the water"
                       Sweet Honey in the Rock- 1980
Mom introduced me to this song in the 80's as one of her favorite songs by Sweet Honey - very powerful words & important message

Celebrating and remembering Ellie....
a bold and brave and beautiful light in the world!