On May 14, 2024, John Oliver “Kenneth” Ellicott died peacefully in the comfort of his home at the age of 83.
He was predeceased by his wife of 60 years: Helen (LeRuzic) Ellicott; brothers: Frederick (Rose) Ellicott of Yonkers, New York, Charles (Eileen) Ellicott of Medford, New Jersey and Joseph (June) Ellicott of British Columbia. He is survived by his children: Sean (Lisa) Ellicott of Springfield, Virginia, Marianne (Andrew) Roberts of Schoharie, New York and Tracy (Michael) Greene, of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Additionally, he is survived by his grandchildren: Heather (Angela) Ellicott, Rosemarie Ellicott, Daniel Baldwin, Mark Roberts, Sarah (Alexander) Roberts, Meghan (Tristan) Hale and Abigail Greene; along with 5 beautiful great-grandchildren, his ever-faithful 4 legged buddy, a Pug named Oliver and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends whom he cherished spending time with.
John to some, Kenny to others, but never “Ollie,” (that’s the dog’s name, after all), was born on July 11, 1940 in the town of Belmullet, County Mayo in the west of Ireland, to Charles and Annie (Deane) Ellicott. As a young man in Ireland, he worked for the Irish Government bringing public works projects to the Mayo Gaeltacht, he washed hair in his mother’s beauty salon, ran his own fish and chips business, and managed much mischief between other such ventures. In 1960, at the age of 20, he emigrated to New York City where he first worked as an electrician’s assistant for Columbia University. There he became well-acquainted with a fellow philosopher, Rodin’s statue of The Thinker, in an adventure which (among the many other adventures of his youth) has since passed into family lore. The annals of the extended Ellicott family are filled with the tales of his life, all told with the rapier wit of a natural Irish raconteur. Perhaps his greatest adventure – and the one he most liked to tell – was the romance of Helen, the love of his life who, he would say, every man in New York City wished to court, but lent her hand in love and marriage only to him.
In 1965 he relocated to the beautiful Schoharie Valley, which reminded him of Ireland. He retired with 30 years of service to General Electric. He and Helen loved to cut the rug and would Jitterbug and Waltz the night away. Kenneth had a great love for his family; he was a self-taught woodworker and created many beautiful keepsakes for family and friends alike. His heart was boundless, and his love extended to his vast fellowship of friends. In keeping life simple and living one day at a time, with Helen at his side, he maintained a seemingly bottomless well of strength which he gladly shared with many a friend in need.
He will be missed. We shall not see another like him.
A celebration of his life will be held at 12:00PM on Friday, May 24, 2024 at Coltrain Funeral Home, LLC 134 River Street, Middleburgh. Visitation with his family will be from 11:00AM-12:00PM, prior to the service. Inurnment will follow in Middleburgh Cemetery.
Memorial donations are requested to The Wilson House, www.wilsonhouse.org.
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