Memories of Ellen St. Sure

In memory of

Ellen St. Sure

Brewster, MA, USA

January 11, 1929 - July 8, 2019

Jan 11, 1929 - Jul 8, 2019

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Toby Bielawski

Ellen has been in our lives as a dear family friend for as long as I can remember. When I was little, I thought her last name was “In Lafayette,” because she lived in nearby Lafayette, Ca. It was much warmer there than in Berkeley, and she was the only person we knew with a swimming pool, so it very exciting on those summer days when my mom and I would go see “Ellen In Lafayette” for swimming; she was always so gracious and welcoming. I remember her telling us a story as we arrived to swim one day: she had recently acquired a kitten (or maybe it was the neighbor’s kitten? Can’t remember) and as she was sunning by the pool with her bikini top untied, she was alarmed to feel someone pulling her top off — but of course, she soon realized it was the kitten, pulling on the strings! I remember just thinking it was somewhat racy to untie a bikini for sunbathing.

As I got older, I would come to realize how much of a practical, nuts-and-bolts personality Ellen had, and since I ended up going into the same field, studying English literature and becoming a college teacher, she was someone I could often turn to for advice. She was always willing to share her time and experiences, particularly with teaching English at Stanford; I even remember having dinner at La Mediterranee on College Avenue in Berkeley sometime in the 90s, when I was a new teacher, and Ellen gave me guidance about teaching, and particularly about navigating the system as a part-time instructor; she was fierce in her warnings about how adjunct faculty can be exploited, and she wasn’t wrong!

Every holiday season as we dig out the Christmas decorations and pull out stockings, we come across the stocking that says “Ellen,” a souvenir of the time, many years after she had moved to Cape Cod, that she came back to the Bay Area to visit her sister for the holidays, and stayed with my mom. Her down-to-earth, even-keeled presence always made her easy to be around. I miss her.

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Gael Alcock

1994, Berkeley, CA, USA

I found Ellen when I was organizing Bennington alumnae to decry the college president's firing of tenured faculty, dismantling the music department and suspension of the tripartite branches of college government. So blatant and cruel was the takeover, and so thin the rationale, that I was surprised how many alumnae lauded the new Bennington. Ellen was not one of those. I can still feel her bracing energy, passion and perseverance in a two- year effort that included interviewing students and faculty, and holding an open alumnae forum where both sides were heard. Ellen helped our team of local alumnae to write and mail out a letter to the 400 association members. Ellen bought the stamps.

We didn't succeed in bringing the jobs back to fired faculty, but we were instrumental in their winning a lawsuit against the college. The jury declared that the president lied, that they didn't believe her.
Ellen became a friend, sharing her love of gardening, music, books, conversation, and children with irresistible zest and humor. I sometimes found it annoying when she asked me, "But what are you DOING?" From the perspective of someone with titanic energy, I probably looked like an idler, but every time I flag in my endeavors, or think, this is just TOO hard, that voice fills me with a potent elixer --belief in myself.

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Noa

Donna Drown

What I loved about Ellen was her tenacity of getting to the truth in archiving the history of Brewster. When my Dad, Joseph A Nickerson, town historian of Chatham passed away, she called me all in a tither because she did not realize that he was my Dad until she read his obituary. He had assisted her with all sorts of facts and information over the years. He also expressed his desire to have the true story told, not just fill in the blanks. So many times Ellen counseled me on the "importance" of passing along the true stories, and how fortunate I was to have the Dad I did. It made a strong connection between us that lasted for years and years. I miss her strength , counsel, respect,and her friendship . She was a woman ahead of her time. Another of the great Cape Cod historians is gone.

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Noa

In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Brewster Historical Society.

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Brewster Historical Society

The Brewster Historical Society is honored to be part of Ellen St. Sure's legacy to the Town of Brewster, contained in her countless hours of research and documentation of our shared history. Ellen has left a gift that will perpetually benefit all as we continue to preserve Brewster's past and make it accessible for the future.

Ellen's passing is a great loss to Brewster and a personal loss to those of us who have gained so much by working with her individually.

We offer heartfelt condolences to her family.

Sally Gunning, President
The Brewster Historical Society

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