After joining Temple B’nai Abraham in 1972, Ellen was quickly recruited by PTA and soon became its treasurer, followed by Sisterhood donor treasurer. She served on the Temple’s Board of Education, and her interest in gardening led her to the Building and Grounds Committee in 1986. She co-chaired Building and Grounds for almost twenty years and mentored new chairs until resuming a co-chair role in 2023. Since 1986, Ellen has been a major factor in the planning and implementation of every major change in our building, grounds and landscaping. She had similar impact at the Memorial Park, serving on that committee from 2010 to 2019.

Ellen co-chaired TBA’s Nominating Committee and the Sodowick Museum Showcase Exhibit Committee and mentored successors.  She has always been an advocate of passing the torch to new leadership. A member of the Board of Trustees since 1989, she looks back on her years of TBA service as enjoyable and rewarding experiences.

TBA activities did not keep Ellen from other community service. Public school PTA and Home & School leadership roles led to the presidency of the town-wide Livingston Parent-Teacher Council in 1977. In 1979 she was elected to the first of two three-year terms on the Livingston Board of Education, on which she served as vice-president and then president. She has served on the boards of, and been the holder of many chair and co-chair roles at, the National Council of Jewish Women Essex County Section, and the Jewish Community Center of MetroWest.

Ellen was honored by the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2011 for her wide-ranging services to the community; received the NCJW Hannah G. Solomon Award for community service in 2004; the American Cancer Society, Essex County Reach to Recovery Volunteer of the Year Award in 1996; Livingston Township Women of Achievement honors in 1995; and, the Martha Lehman Leadership Award at the Jewish Welfare Board Biennial National Meeting in 1989.

Born in the Bronx, NY, she grew up living at various times in Allentown and Easton, PA; Fresh Meadows, Great Neck and Roslyn Heights, NY; and Richmond, VA. A 1955 graduate of Great Neck High School, she received a BA in Psychology from Westhampton College, University of Richmond in 1959. Married in 1961, she and husband Peter lived in New York, NY, Washington, D.C., and Great Neck, NY before moving to Livingston in 1970. They have two children, Amy and Steven, and grandsons Brian, Max and Eli.