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Ellen Lurie 's husband Bob Belson wrote to us this week and asked us to let the class know of Ellen's recent death.She died due to complications from pancreatic cancer. If you have fond memories of Ellen that you would like to share, please share them below. My own memories of Ellen, besides a nice long chat that we had at the 50th Reunion , include our early years in Brownie Troop 23. Ellen's mother and Bunny Simon were the troop leaders .
Becky
NY TIMES 6/28/20
Ellen Siev Lurie Belson
Ellen was the beloved wife of Robert, mother to Laura and Joe and grandmother to Oriah and Zion. She attended Brandis University and Boston University and became an occupational therapist and author of The Adult Stroke Patient, A Manual for Evalution and Treatment of Perpetual and Cognitive Dysfunction. After attending Pace Unitversity Law School, Ellen worked as an attorney of elder law.
She was a farmer for five years on Moshav Idan in Israel. A creative quilter and active choir member, she loved family, travel and hiking, gardening and philanthropy and all-round life. She will be greatly missed.
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Bob (Robie) Roemer
I remember Ellen going way back to Bedford Road School and from our group on the Washington Trip. In high school she was definitely on the fast track academically so I did not see her too often. I did, however, have occasion to speak with her at class reunions and I was reminded what a wonderful, sweet and kind person she was and I am so sad that we have lost her.
Kathlyn Hannigan (Deak)
I've never forgotten one of our chats. The sweet girl and lovely lady takes another piece of my heart.
Martha Ten Broeck (Bhatia)
I enjoyed the times I spent with Ellen both in the classroom and at our own homes in Usonia and Old Farm Hill. I was always envious that Ellen brought cream cheese and pretzel sandwiches in her lunch. (My mother stuck to more traditional choices like egg salad.) Following her trip to Israel, she brought me back a doll to join the collection that my Grandmother had given me over the years. That doll now sits proudly in Newton MA as a part of what is my (50-year-old!) daughter's collection. Ellen is one of the classmates that I kept in touch with over the years. She was the oldest member of the Class of '64 and I was the youngest so we made good bookends!
Janet Lohman
Ellen was such a good friend. She and her family introduced me to things I would not have exposed to, or at least the age I was. A Broadway show, carving balsa wood,Girl Scout camping and the skills it took to do it on a weekend of rain, complete with lashing a toilet seat together. One night when her parents were out, we watched the original Frankenstein movie. She was so bright. Riding my bike up to Usonia to visit was always an adventure. I was privileged to have had her as a friend and the world was privileged to have her in it.Amy Philmus (Cohen)
I was so sad to hear about Ellen's death especially from such a brutal cancer. Death always manages to be a shock even tho we know its coming.
My friendship with her probably started in JHS. At that time she had a birthday party and the plan was to go into NYC to see the Fantastics in their first year. There was a snowstorm that night but , but this did not daunt Ellen's mom who drove us into the city where we had such an exciting time.
Ellen was very lively and loved to laugh. She was so smart but never showed off and was so down to earth. I used to love to go to their house in Usonia to play . It was very exotic to me with their radiant heating and ultra modern design.
Mari talked about her staying so slim,but what I most remember when I stayed over was that her daily breakfast was a glass of chocolate milk and a chocolate donut. I thought that was the greatest.
I will miss her.
Amy (Philmus) Cohen
Richard Friedman
I am so glad to see these postings about Ellen. We were neighbors and though not particularly close, we were part of a community family. I am so happy to see from these postings how she was loved.
Geoffery Yorke
I was indeed saddened just now to learn of the passing of our classmate, Ellen. When we all were in school together I lived on King Street not far from Usonia . I saw Ellen each morning on the bus but we rarely spoke, mainly because I was in such awe of her intellect that I was certain that whatever I might say would come out sounding a bit foolish to her. Having now read some of the earlier memories posted here, I realize I missed a great chance to get to know a warm, kind and interesting person who seems to have left a warm glow behind in many of the lives she touched. May she rest in peace.
Mitzi Porter (Bolin)
I was so saddened to read of Ellen's passing. We shared many classes in Junior High and High School. I remember random things, like Shelley's nickname for her, "Ellura", kind of a combination of her first and last names. I can't remember when she went to Israel, but I was very touched by her giving me a piece of jewery she had bought there, a silvery filigree pin with a red stone in the center. Instead of wearing it as a pin, I put it on a silver chain and wore it for many years., thinking of her kindness and gentleness each time. I still have it, and will still wear it in her memory. When I mentioned it again at one of our reunions, she had no recollection of the kind gift she had given me. It's hard to realize she is gone. I'm sorry I hadn't stayed better in touch. Rest in peace, dear Ellen.
Shelley Lacman (Mangan)
I was saddened as well to learn of Ellen's passing. I know I have written about a memory of Ellen from elementary school, but don't see it posted, so I will say it again! Anyway, for Ellen's birthday, her mother took some of us into NYC to see West Side Story on Broadway. It was my first Broadway play and a wonderful experience: Jerry Lewis was in the audience and my cousin was in the Bernstein orchestra! For a long time afterward, Amy Philmus and I used to dance around snapping our fingers like the Jets, singing, "Cool, cool, stay cool, man!" We thought we were so cool! Mitzi, Ellen, Carol, were you a part of that?
That excursion to see West Side Story was a wonderful introduction to the theater for me, and I am grateful for that. I am not sure I would have seen so many plays otherwise. When I mentioned that event to Ellen at the reunion, she didn't recall it at all. Funny how that works, it was a memorable occurence in my childhood, but not so much for her!
From what her husband wrote, it certainly looks like she had a fulfilling and wonderful life. I am especially impressed with her time spent in Israel. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to her family.
Marcia Grossbard (Braundy)
It is always difficult to hear of the death of someone you know and who is your age, especially someone with whom you shared Brownies and Girl Scouts, and some one as smart, gentle, articulate and generous as Ellen Lurie (Benson). She was a lovely role model for the rest of us about what we could accomplish with our lives. I am so glad she went on to live a very fulfilled and interested life filled with great dedication to humanity.