Eleanor, a native of Bristol, RI, graduated from Sargent College in 1951 with a BS in Physical Education. She did post graduate work at RI College, NYU, UConn and Columbia University. She began her teaching career in the Simsbury school system. In 1962 she began a 1 year run as teacher administrator and coach at the University of Bridgport and Arnold College. She finished her professional craeer at the Universtiy of Rhode Island as Senior Associate Director of Athletics prior to retirement in 1992.
During her days in Connecticut, she was a very active volleyball official holding an honorary national rating. After attending the National Institute on Girls Sports in the early ‘60s, she returned to Connecticut where she started conducting volleyball clinics all over the state. Jean Hunt credits Ellie with introcuding the new power volleyball fame to the state and working diligently to educate teachers, coaches and officials to the “modern” technique of the sports as it was being played in California.
Some of her contributions to varous areas of sport included holding offices such as the DGWS officiating coordinator for the east, EAIAW President, AIAW Executive Board, Chair of the RI Board of Officials and the easter district AAHPERD Secretary. She has been inducted into five halls of fame and she has received numerous honors for administration.
Ellie afforded many high school and college women the opportunity to play and compete, but she never had the opportunity herself. In high school and college, no varsity sport for women offered or allowed in the 40’s and 50’s.