Ellie Thurman Reichlin

Dear Si,
I am Peter Wood, the third child of Dr. Barry Wood, who was your mentor in St. Louis. All five of Barry and Leal's children enjoyed the visits of the Reichlins to our house on Litzsinger Road. One Christmas Ellie took five white mugs and painted them with personalized pictures for each of the Wood kids. I kept mine for years.
Years later, in 1976, she contacted me as the author of Black Majority, a book about South Carolina slavery, and told me of her discovery of the...

Dr. Reichlin,
How the years have passed. I am so sorry to learn of Mrs. reichlin's death, but, without a doubt, the few years that you were our neighbors in Parkview in University City (St. Louis) left a lasting impression on this then young boy next door. Mother and Dad loved the times spent together and it was clear to Mother you were destined for well-earned fame. Even I, as a young kid was aware of the brilliance, support, and pride that Ellie contributed to the endeavors. I recall...

Dear Seymour,
I read of Ellie's death in the Simmons magazine which arrived today. I have fond memories of working with her on a project at the Wayland Public Library where I was director for 25 years. I think it was the late 80's, just before you both planned your move to Tucson. I can picture Ellie now; she was so intelligent and capable. I believe she prepared written material to accompany a historic photography exhibit we were planning. Her brochure was stellar. Over a long...

Dear Dr. Reichlin,

I happened upon this notice about your wife's passing and it made me very sad. Long ago, you and Mrs. Reichlin left a significant imprint on my life. I remember how proud you were of her when she brought to light the existence and significance of those slave photographs. At holiday times, when you would give gifts to your Endocrine Department staff, the gifts were so artfully and thoughtfully chosen by your wife. All these years later, I still have two of...

Dear Si,
Ellie is responsible for helping me to acclimate to Tucson some six years ago. She came to my workshop on writing memoirs and continued to write stories in my group the following months.
My husband Paul and I visited your Vail home after a lunch with Nina and Nick. When you were searching for a new home, we hoped you would find something near us in the Foothills.
We both loved and enjoyed Ellie, a truly warm and gentle woman, whose sense of humor may have been her...

I was lucky enough to meet Ellie at a concert in Green Valley a few years ago. We found much in common, & began e-mailing one another. Then I moved away to live with my daughter after my husband died, and lost contact with Ellie. Thank God I found this obit, and can add my thanks for knowing her to this memory book. What lucky people came into close contact with this vibrant, enthusiastic woman! She was a real treasure.

To my cousins and my dear uncle, we send our love and sympathy on this grievous loss. Ellie's voice and her personal and artistic style will be present with you forever. We remember her with love. Evan and Mark Skinner