WILLIAM ELLIS

ELLIS--William Scott, 92, died of pneumonia on November 30, 2015. Bill was born in Somerville, MA, graduated from Boston Public Latin School, Harvard College and Harvard Law School, and served in the U.S. Army medical corps during WWII. He helped to establish the U.S. National Student Association and the International Union of Students and was elected Vice Chairman of the latter. He was also involved in the World Student Christian Federation and the U.S. Student Christian Movement. These activities put him in contact with many leaders such as Olof Palme, later Prime Minister of Sweden, Zakir Husain, later President of India, and many others whose friendship and guidance he deeply valued. After serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he was a co-founder of the law firm Ellis, Stringfellow, Patton & Leibovitz. In the mid-1970s a U.S. District Judge appointed him Administrator of an affirmative action Consent Decree with a mandate to increase minority employment among New York City newspaper deliverers to 25%. He continued in that role until 2006, achieving and exceeding that goal, and steered the Consent Decree to a successful conclusion. The rest of Bill's practice was dedicated to similar issues as well as the representation of religious and student organizations and general practice. Bill never retired, but continued practicing law until prevented by illness. He was very active in his local church and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Executive Council of the Lutheran Church in America. Bill lived a life of purpose, generosity and dedication to social justice, and he treated all those around him with kindness and respect. He will be deeply missed. Bill is survived by his wife of 58 years Anne, his son and daughter-in-law Paul and Mary, and his son Jonathan. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 12th at 11:30am at Advent Lutheran Church, 2504 Broadway, New York, NY.