| Obituary in the Press Herald |
NEW GLOUCESTER – Born in Boston, on June 30, 1937 to Bertha and Manuel Malkin, Ellie was the eldest of three daughters. She was raised in Malden, Mass., where she attended and graduated from Malden High School in 1955. Ellie matriculated to Bouvé-Boston School of Physical Therapy and Physical Education of Tufts College and graduated in 1959. She worked 40 years as a physical therapist. Her first job was working at Boston Children’s Hospital in the “Iron Lung” Unit. From there, she moved to Maine in 1963 eventually settling in New Gloucester in 1973. Her first job in Maine was as a physical therapist for Pineland Hospital in New Gloucester. She then worked for Central Maine Medical Center and subsequently ended her professional career as a physical therapist for children with special needs with the Auburn School Department. She served as president for the Maine Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association in the 1970s.
In addition to her work as a physical therapist, Ellie was a ski instructor and a member of the ski patrol at Lost Valley in Auburn in the 1970’s. She was also an active member of the Sierra Club where she enjoyed many of their western mountain hiking trips, including trips to the Sierra Nevadas and to eastern Oregon. She was a member of the New Gloucester Recreation Commission where she helped establish the Learn to Ski Program, Learn to Swim Program, and Summer Recreation Program for New Gloucester’s school-age children. Ellie was an early adopter of mountain biking, and frequently was sighted biking around the New Gloucester’s rural roads.
Beginning in 1986, Ellie became a correspondent photographer for the Lewiston Sun Journal newspaper where she reported on community news and special interest topics. Her coverage documented the closure of Pineland Hospital as well as the last active Shaker Community in the United States. She and her husband Francis enjoyed many international trips traveling to every continent except Antarctica including China, Russia, South Africa, and Morocco.
Never to be one to sit still for long, after her retirement Ellie became an avid quilter, showcasing her work throughout New England and attending National Quilting Conventions with her group of fellow Magpies. In addition to her many hobbies, family was central to Ellie’s life. She was proud to say that all four of her children returned home to Maine “in chronological birth order and all live in Cumberland County.”
Ellie was predeceased in 2008 by her husband of 35 years, Francis X Fellers.
She is survived by daughter Susan Paclat and husband Charles, of Cape Elizabeth; son Stephen Barr and wife Andrea Suter of Cumberland; son Jonathan Fellers and wife Mary Beth of South Portland; and daughter Jennifer Farley and husband Kevin of New Gloucester. Ellie leaves five grandchildren: Sara Paclat of Cambridge, Mass.; Caroline Paclat of London, England; Isaac Barr of Cumberland; August Fellers of South Portland; and Josephine Fellers of South Portland. She leaves behind her sister, Judith Frangos, of Jamaica Plain, Mass., and is predeceased by her sister, Rhoda St Laurent. Ellie is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Ellie is also survived by four grand-dogs.
We wish to thank Androscoggin Home Health and Hospice, Dr. Pamela Ross, and Dr. Nicholette Erickson for their warm and compassionate care.
As per Eleanor’s request, no funeral or memorial service will be held. Rather a celebration of her life will be held on a date to be determined this summer at her beloved cottage on Sabbathday Lake in New Gloucester, Maine.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Eleanor’s memory can be made in support of the Shaker Village Herb House Capital Campaign: United Society of Shakers, Inc., 707 Shaker Rd, New Gloucester, ME 04260.
— Read the obituary in the Press Herald at this link or at Wilson Funeral Home at this link.
