Eleanor E. Bingham

Eleanor (Ellie) Bingham, long time resident of the desert (Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, La Quinta), passed away February 23, 2008 in her home in Pasadena, CA. Ellie was a lover of life, always passionately involved in causes and organizations that she believed in. She provided untiring leadership to many organizations, encouraging everyone around her to get involved. When she experienced how hard it can be for ailing low- income seniors to deal with medical issues, she founded Desert Samaritans of the Elderly and served as president during its formative years. She lobbied the California Attorney General to oversee the sale of the non-profit Carlotta-Good Samaritans home when it was sold to a for-profit entity and ensured that a percentage was put aside for the new charity to continue the intention and spirit of the original donation of land and funds. She served on the board of the Desert Community Association, was active in the College of the Desert Foundation Auxiliary, the Muses of the McCallum Theatre, the East Valley Republican Women, and the Lincoln Club. She was an active member of the Palm Desert Presbyterian Community Church and served on its New Member and Building Committees. She was a member of the The Springs Country Club, Morningside Country Club, Desert Island Country Club, and Marrakesh Country Club. Ellie enjoyed a career as an executive administrator and campaign manager in the Republican Party. She began her political career by volunteering for Women for Nixon, lobbying for support for childcare for working women. She worked for the Republican National Committee, as executive assistant to the Deputy Chairman, worked on both Nixon for President Campaigns, and was involved in campaigns for Senate (Beall-Maryland). In addition to her career in politics she worked in several industries, including mortgage banking for Sutro & Co. There, she met and married the love of her life, Edwin S. Bingham. During the 70s - 80s, she was a leader in the women\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s auxiliary of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Southern California Chapter, launching the extremely successful annual celebrity dinner that continues to this day. While her children were growing up, Ellie provided leadership to numerous PTAs and eventually served as president of the Coordinating Council of PTAs in Palos Verdes, CA. She led a district wide educational campaign against venereal disease--one of the first to do so. Ellie was born to Hungarian immigrants in Cleveland, OH. She settled in Southern California in 1950 and raised two daughters. She is survived by her sister, Barbara Cory Black; her brother, Joseph Hirka; her daughter, Judy Asbury; and her three grand-children, Ryan Asbury, Kathryn Williams and Florence Williams, as well as her grand stepson, Dirk Asbury and son-in-law, Greg Asbury. The family is asking that in lieu of flowers a donation be sent in her name to either of two charities: the Pasadena charity she was closest to when she died: Mothers Club Family Learning Center, a two-generation learning program for poor families in the Pasadena area. Their address is 980 No. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103; www.mothersclub.org. Or, to Desert Samaritans for the Elderly, the charity she fought for and founded to help seniors in need. (www.dsfte.org) A memorial service will be held to celebrate her life Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 2:00 PM at the Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church.