David Robert Ellis

David Robert Ellis, 85, of Atlanta, died peacefully on May 5, 2024, after a long, courageous battle with dementia. Dave was a man beloved by everyone for his remarkable kindness, warmth, generosity, and love of conversation, jokes, and April Fools' Day! He is survived by his wife, Stephanie Leedy-Ellis, and their five daughters, Vicki Gray of Atlanta, Julie Schlangen (Rick) of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Dana Traynor (Stephen) of Castle Rock, Colorado, Kimberly Kloecker (John) of Atlanta, and Angela Larson (Christopher) of Edina, Minnesota. He was "PopPop" to fifteen grandchildren (Molly, Harrison, Oliver, Lindsey, Bryan, Austin, Camryn, Delaney, Sean, James, Anna, Matthew, Daniel, Hannah, and Leonard); and 2 great-grandchildren (Brynlee and Beckett). He is also survived by his siblings, Joan Berger of Atlanta and Jeffrey Ellis (Vicki) of Ellicott City, Maryland.

Dave was born in 1938 in Washington, DC. He graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School and then the University of Maryland, College Park, with a degree in Accounting in 1961. Following graduation, he worked for Arthur Anderson in various roles in DC and in Baltimore: Director of Recruiting, Audit Manager, and Senior & Staff Accounting. His passion was in Recruiting, so in 1977 he founded/owned/recruited for Don Richard of Baltimore for the next 13 years; and, in 1990, for Don Richard of Central PA for 2 years. Then, in 1993, he became co-owner and recruiter for Don Richard of Atlanta for 10 years. Before retiring, he recruited for Spherion and Bolton.

Dave was committed to community service, including serving as Past President of the Institute of Management Accountants in Baltimore; Treasurer and Chairman of the Rotary Club in Baltimore, and a Rotary member in York, PA, and Atlanta; on the Membership Committee for the Association of Corporate Growth in Baltimore and Atlanta; and as a Pathfinders' mentor for career development for women chosen for the program by their employers. Once diagnosed with dementia, he became a fierce advocate for The Alzheimer's Association and Emory Brain Health, volunteering on committees and participating in activities sometimes several times a week.

A Celebration of Life is upcoming for family and close friends.

In lieu of gifts, donations to one of the following would be appreciated:

The Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter, 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 550, Atlanta, GA 30346; on check memo line write "In Memory of Dave Ellis"; or

Online at the website for The Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter; or

Emory University Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, online by copying and pasting this link: https://alzheimers.emory.edu/about/support/index.html.

Checks can be mailed to:

Emory University

Office of Gift Accounting

1762 Clifton Road, Suite 2400

Atlanta, GA 30322

Write on check memo line: "Alzheimer's Disease Research in memory of David Ellis"