Obituary of John Bingham Ellison

Dr. John Bingham Ellison passed away on March 22, 2014 in Chester, CT. The son of the late Howard and Margaret Bingham Ellison. He was predeceased by his sister Louise Durnay. John was the beloved husband of Patricia Lamar Ellison of Chester, CT. Born in Hoboken, NJ, John grew up in New York City, spending most of his formative years at the Episcopal Church's Sheltering Arms, and attending High School there. He was a graduate of Columbia University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1950. College was interrupted by his service in the Army in the Philippines during World War II. He received a Doctor of Medicine from the Columbia Medical School in 1954. Dr. Ellison was the first left-handed surgeon to graduate from Columbia. He completed his residency and fellowship in General Surgery at St. Luke's Hospital, NYC in 1955. In 1960 he moved his family to Middletown where he established a private surgical practice. During his tenure at Horton Memorial Hospital from 1960 to 1998, he was elected chairman of the Surgical Department for several terms, as well as serving as Chief of Staff. He also was an attending physician at Arden Hill Hospital from 1959 through 1996. Dr. Ellison performed the first ever pacemaker implant at Horton Hospital in the early 1960's. Dr. Ellison was married to his first wife Louise Richards Ellison for 47 years before her passing in 2001. Dr. Ellison is survived by his daughter: Lynn and her husband Timothy Jaeger, of North Granby, CT, and their daughter Christine, and his sons: John B. Jr and his wife Mary of Hanover, MA, and their children, Benjamin, Samantha and Amy, David and his wife Wendy of Hingham, MA, and their children Matthew, Nicholas and Emma, Andrew and his wife Sandra of Denver, CO and William of Middletown, NY. As his children grew he enjoyed spending time with them and his wife Louise at their cabin on Wolf Lake in Sullivan County, NY. This is where his love of sailing began. He also found time to be active on the Middletown YMCA Board along with serving on the executive Board at South Winds retirement home. In addition, he was a life member of the Medical Society of Orange County and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. In later years he was an active member of the Chelsea Yacht Club in Chelsea, NY; serving as Vice-Commodore and Commodore. After retirement, racing and sailing on the Hudson along with cruising on Long Island Sound and on Narragansett Bay, visiting Block Island and other ports with his wife Pat on his beloved sailboat Thankful was his great passion. Dad was quick witted, happy to see you and always ready with some good natured teasing or a joke. He loved his crossword puzzles, homemade chocolate chip cookies, blueberry muffins and would never admit he ate as many as he did, because he was the master at sliding one or more of his wrappers your way. Dad was a kind gentleman who loved his family and was never too quick to judge or act. Visitation will be held at Ralston-Lippincott-Hasbrouck-Ingrassia Funeral Home Inc. 72 West Main St., Middletown, NY on Saturday March 29, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, followed by a service at the funeral home. The Rev. Fred Noll will be officiating. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Middletown YMCA, 81 Highland Avenue, Middletown, NY, or Episcopal Social Services, Sheltering Arms, Manhattan Office, 305 7th Ave., NY, NY 10001-6008.