Michael W. Ellis ’59

Michael died Sept. 15, 2020, after enduring several years of Parkinson’s disease.

Born in Cambridge, Mass., he came to Princeton via the Kent School. Michael majored in English at Princeton, receiving sophomore and junior English prize honorable mentions, joining the St. Paul’s Society, and graduating summa cum laude. But Michael’s singular activity, foreseeing changes to come in the social organization of undergraduate life, was his involvement, together with roommate Dale Goldsmith and several others, in refusing to participate in 1957’s bicker and forcing the University to provide an alternate dining facility, Wilson Lodge. This led to creation of Wilson College, forming the genesis of the college system now in place at Princeton.

Following graduation Michael entered General Theological Seminary in New York City, earning a bachelor’s degree in theology in 1962 and leading to ordination as an Episcopal priest. The following six years saw Michael’s marriage to Anice Rutters and the birth of two children while serving as a parish clergyman in New York, Missouri, and Detroit. The summer of 1968 brought, in Michael’s words, a “retooling,” changing his profession to become a social worker and leading to a master’s in social work from Wayne State University. He spent the rest of his life in service to others, happily bridging his two professions.

Michael is survived by Anice, and children David and Martha and their families. We have sent condolences.