Ellen F. Boyd

Ellen Finch Boyd, 1943-2024, was born in Elmira, N.Y., graduated from Southside High School in 1961 and Jean Summer's Business School before working as secretary for the Small Business Administration (SBA), retiring after 30 years from that position.  She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Merrill, brother, Stuart Finch, who gave her the nickname LaLa, and granddaughter, Megan E. Jacobs.

Ellen was known for her dedication and her outspokenness.  Theater was a passion going back to the early 1960s for beloved Elmira Little Theatre and Golden Age of Radio.  She was also an avid reader, from ancient to modern history and mysteries.  All this from a father who wrote plays, acted and illustrated.

Nature and the outdoors were another of her favorites.  So much so that she willed her home to Tanglewood Nature Center just up the road from her home.  This will be open to naturalists and scientists as a permanent reminder of our debt to the flora and fauna around us.

Ellen loved her granddaughter, Megan, as seen being held by her in the photo.  Megan enjoyed travel with her grandmother.

Important commitments in her life were knitting for local hospitals and being a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

Ellen's husband, Jack Boyd, was the north star of her love as well as her alter ego!  Both had a pilots license and flew for the love of it.  Both traveled widely except when Ellen went alone to Africa for her 50th year.  Jack refused to go.  It was a contest of strong wills and husband came in second place.  Among her adventures just in Africa were visits to the Serengeti National Park, and to the west African countries of Burkina Faso and Mali (including its ancient city of Timbuktu).  She often said how appreciative the people are to find that visitors speak a little of their language, most often Swahili.  True.  But we don't forget the many photos we saw of Egypt.  Even Siberia with                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        those long, low buildings at a winter's distance and her convoluted description of getting visas to enter Outer Mongolia but not Inner Mongolia.  Or was that the other way around?  Or should we back up and try to describe the variety of cuisines Ellen enjoy.  You didn't have to know their origins to know that Ellen had probably tasted them.  Anyway, we were happy for her!

Because her husband was a partner in Curly's Chicken House in Elmira Heights, Ellen became accustomed to hard work in the kitchen, including long hours, efficiency and just plain getting the food out there.  It was duty at early dawn for everyone!

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the local Tanglewood Nature Center and Museum, 443 Coleman Ave., Elmira, N.Y. 14903.