Dr. Ellen Somers Horgan

Dr. Ellen Somers Horgan, 79, died peacefully of natural causes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the week of July 14. Dr. Horgan received her PhD in sociology at the University of Missouri in 1968 and for the next twenty years taught and performed research at the University of Missouri, the University of Louisville, and California Polytechnic University.

Ellen grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts where she excelled at sports and academics. At the age of 15 she set a world speed skating record. She was also captain of her high school basketball, tennis, and field hockey teams and a swimming instructor during World War II. She attended Wellesley College on a scholarship and was a distinguished graduate student in community development at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana.

Dr. Horgan is survived by her brother, David Horgan of Rutland, Vermont and her three children, David Biddle-Philadelphia; Jesse Biddle-Averill Park, NY; and Jennifer Biddle-Sydney, Australia; and seven grandchildren.

Donations in Dr. Ellen Horgan's name may be made to the American Friends Service Committee, headquartered in Philadelphia (call 1-888-588-2372 ext. 1 or go to www.afsc.org and look for the "Memorial Giving" option in the "How to Give" section).