Conversations with Ellen

Ellen has truly been a successful woman. Born in the twenties, like many others of her generation she joined in the war effort. Supporting the troops during World War II didn?t mean sending them a pound of coffee; it meant working hard for them every day. In Ellen?s case, that meant joining the Marines. After the war, she taught high school for twenty-two years, taking time off along the way to be a stay-at-home mom. She was a devoted wife for 58 years. But she also had a career as an artist and interests in traveling that allowed her to function independently of marriage and motherhood. She managed to combine career and family during a time when the dominant paradigm for an ideal woman included ironing sheets and cooking dinner in your pantyhose and pearls. Yet she lived her life as a feminine, soft-spoken person. Her story is rich in fascinating details and family connections. It is probably not possible to do her full justice with any portrait, but I offer you this one hoping that it increases your understanding of this remarkable woman.