Cotter, Ellen R. (Connolly) of Charlestown, MA and Naples, FL, 70, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, January 1, 2022. Ellen was born on July 20, 1951, in Winchester, MA to the late Edward and Mary (Callaghan) Connolly of Milton, MA. Raised in Dorchester, MA, Ellen and her family attended St. Marks Parish. She graduated from St. Gregory’s High School in 1969 and went on to receive her Associates degree at Fontbonne Academy, and later her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Massachusetts.
Ellen was an independent, hardworking, and self-made woman. After putting herself through college at night, she moved to New York City and began an illustrious career. She was at Paine Weber for many years, where she specialized in government-insured housing and health care finance. Upon moving back to Boston, she was responsible for Berkshire Mortgage Finance’s health care group, with nationwide responsibility. She closed her professional career in 2010, after serving as the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Director for the Northeast. She was appointed to her role by the late Massachusetts Senator, Edward Kennedy.
Ellen will be remembered as exceptionally kind, generous, outgoing, and funny. She loved being with her friends and traveling with her dear Jack. They thew elaborate parties at their condo on Boston Harbor – Chowder Fests, Tall Ships and Fourth of July spectaculars were enjoyed by their many friends and family. Ellen was an expert downhill skier, and enjoyed running, playing golf and being outdoors. She was a member of Charles River Country Club in Newton, MA and the Moorings Country Club in Naples, FL.
Ellen was the loving wife of the late John E. (Jack) Cotter, Jr. They were married for 22 wonderful years. She leaves her brother, Brian Connolly of Edwards, CO, her nephews, Shawn Connolly and his wife Pang of Shelburne Falls, VT, Ian Connolly of Montreal, Canada, nieces Meghan Saund and her husband Mandeep of West Roxbury, Erica Carney and her husband James of Walpole, her cherished grandnieces, Mairead and Meara Saund, and Maeve and Mara Carney, her stepdaughter Shelley (Cotter) Murphy and her beloved granddaughter, Lily Murphy, both of Scituate, MA. She also leaves many loving extended family members in both the U.S. and Ireland, and treasured friends. Besides her husband Jack, she is predeceased by her sister, Patricia Raftery and brother Edward Connolly.
Due to current Covid restrictions, Ellen’s Celebration of Life will be delayed until Friday, April 29th, 2022. Funeral Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1382 Highland Avenue, Needham, beginning at 10am. Burial to follow at Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Ellen to Mass General Hospital (https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate) or Rosie’s Place (http://www.rosiesplace.org).