MARSHFIELD - David W. Ellis, 87, of Marshfield, passed away Monday July 25 at Renaissance Gardens Linden Ponds in Hingham, MA., having spent his final days with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren around him. Born in Willimantic, CT. and a long time resident of Marshfield, he was the husband of the late Lucy. E. (Lu) Ellis, his loving wife of more than 50 years. Together, they founded the Marshfield Food Pantry out of the kitchen in the former Marshfield Methodist Church. The Food Pantry continues to serve the Marshfield community. He was preceded in death by his sister Caroline D. Ellis of Marshfield and by his parents Benjamin Ward Ellis and Sara Josephine Ellis also of Marshfield. He is survived by his son David T. Ellis of Provincetown, MA. and daughter Kathlyn G. Ellis of Mallorca, Spain. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Sara Ellis Cardona and Paloma Ellis Gomez of Dallas, TX, and Matthew Ellis of Santa Fe, NM and Andrew Ellis of Manchester, NH. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren. Mr. Ellis or "Dave" as he was known as to friends, was born in Willimantic, CT on January 20, 1924 and spent his early childhood years living in Storrs, CT. where his father was employed by the University of Connecticut Agricultural Extension Service. At age 13, the family moved to California, traveling by steamer through the Panama Canal and up to San Francisco where his father taught at UC Berkley. Following their stay in Berkley, the family moved back to Marshfield where his father turned to farming, built a bog and started a cranberry growing enterprise. Mr. Ellis attended Fryeburg Academy in Maine and graduated from Tabor Academy in Marion, MA. After graduating from Johns Hopkins University he married Lucy Goldsmith in Baltimore, MD and shortly thereafter, moved to Marshfield. "Lu", as her friends knew her, started the first kindergarten in Marshfield in the Trinity Episcopal Church hall and later, ran it in their home on Webster St. She continued to teach kindergarten and elementary grades for the Duxbury Public Schools. "Dave" worked for Retail Credit Company in Brockton, MA and later for Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Co. in Boston. While raising a family, they were always active in church and community. "Dave" served on various town committees including the Marshfield School Building Committee in the 1960's. At home, he was often recruited as a "4th" when "Lu" had the bridge club over, they both enjoyed painting and sketching and "Dave" was very talented in drawing and watercolor painting. He enjoyed reading, long drives, classical music, the ocean and what seemed to us the endless "Zen" activity of mowing the ever growing lawn of his home on his ride-on mower. In later years after "Lu" passed away, he enjoyed the comradery of a group of "mature" gentlemen, affectionately known as "The Old Goats" that met on Fridays at a local restaurant to "chat n' chew". He was a true gentleman, generous, loving to his family, a tireless caregiver to his wife and he loved and served the community he lived in. The family would especially like to thank the caring community at Allerton House in Hingham where "Dave" lived for the last five years and to the nurses and the incredibly compassionate staff at Renaissance Gardens Linden Ponds in Hingham for the care and dignity they provided to him and support to the family during such a difficult time.
It is impossible to sum up a person's life in a few paragraphs, but the words that have been repeated by so many expressing their sympathy as well as our own feeling is that David W. Ellis was a TRUE GENTLEMAN, as true as one could ever find. He is deeply missed already and will be missed by many. He was buried with a small private service in Cedar Grove Cemetery in Marshfield on Wednesday, July 27th. He wished that any expression of remembrance be in the form of a donation to the Marshfield Food Pantry, PO Box 1097 Marshfield, MA 02050, 781-837-0359 www.marshfieldfoodpantry.com.