William Corson Ellis

1932 - 2018

1932-2018 William Corson Ellis passed away peacefully at home on August 27th, 2018. Titia, his wife of sixty-one years, was by his side. Born March 4, 1932 at the Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago, Bill was raised in Lake Forest, IL. He was the youngest of four sons, brothers Thorne, Corson, and David, parents Roberta Thorne and George Corson Ellis. Bill attended Lake Forest Country Day School. In 1950, he graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, where he found his love for athletics and singing. He grew up spending summers at the Thorne family camp in Canada on Lake Huron just outside Desbarats, Ontario. As a graduate of Yale University in 1954, Bill received a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through ROTC training. He received his wings in 1955 and was assigned to Laredo Air Force Base in Texas where he was the Base Public Information Officer. Flying was one of Bill's passions. He became a squadron commander and continued to fly single engine jet aircraft. During this time, he began courting the love of his life, Titia. To fulfill his necessary flight hours, he would fly in to various locations to meet her. At the Glenview Naval Air Station, she would drive up onto the tarmac which one could do in those days and pick Bill up as he stepped out of the cockpit. By the end of his Air Force career, Bill had reached the rank of Captain. In June 1957, upon returning to Chicago, Bill and Titia married. There followed a career in business - first in manufacturing and finance, followed by investment and British merchant banking. He and Titia had three children David (b. 1958), Robin (b. 1960) and Billy (b. 1961). In 1976, Bill left the business world to return to school. He and his wife both enrolled in the doctorate program in counseling Psychology at Northwestern University, where they received their PhDs in 1982. For the next fourteen years, Bill and Titia each had their own private clinical practice as well as a joint family practice in the Chicago area. Bill taught at the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management 1985-1990, where he discovered he had a natural gift in the classroom. He loved teaching and connecting with the students and they loved and respected him. They moved to Santa Fe, NM in 1990, allowing Titia to concentrate on writing a book and Bill to focus on painting oil landscapes and continuing their love of singing. In 2001, Bill and Titia moved to Woodstock, VT, to be closer to their daughter Robin and her family. They quickly fell in love with Woodstock, becoming members of the Universalist Unitarian church and singing in the choir. Bill continued his love of painting, leaving behind an impressive collection of beautiful oil landscapes. Summer visits to Desbarats on Lake Huron continued: a magical place he loved to share with Titia, and the next two generations. He often talked about his mother, who taught her sons that there was a world to see and explore, that it was never too late to learn new things, and to always follow your dreams. Bill is survived by his wife, Titia Ellis, three children and eleven grandchildren. David Ellis (Myra Platt) of Seattle, WA, and Dave's kids Bailey and Ruby, and stepson, Wilson. Robin Ellis Driscoll (Mark Driscoll) of Los Angeles, CA and their kids Rosie, Phoebe, Ian, Adam, Tsehay, Mike and Jack. Bill Ellis Jr. (Tess Weir) of Portland, OR and Bill's daughters Georgia and Camille. Bill is also survived by his brother Corson Ellis (Connie Ellis) of New York City. Memorial scheduled for Saturday, September 15, 11:00am at the Woodstock Unitarian Church. Reception to follow. An on line guest book can be found at cabotfh.com