Jaques Ellison

Jacques Ellison

Jacques Ellison, 86, passed away on Thursday, February 4, 2010, at his home at Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge in Charlottesville, Virginia.

He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Jacques Ellison and Mary Myrtle Patton Ellison on January 10, 1924.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Ellie Ellison; sons Chris, Tim, Dan and Peter Polesky. Also surviving grandchildren Kyle, Shannon, Carolyn and Dylan Ellison and Brother James O. Ellison of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1942 to 1945. He received a degree in journalism at the University of Tulsa. After which he shifted into Public Relations and worked for the University of Tulsa, The American Petroleum Institute, Martin Wright & Associates and Brock Hall Dairy Co.

He moved his family to the Virgin Islands in 1964 where he consulted for Governor Melvin Evans, the last appointed and first elected Governor of the Virgin Islands. The ITT recruited him to work as Director of Public Relations and Advertising for the Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation (VITELCO), a company owned by ITT. He was given recognition by ITT by winning the worldwide competition for ITT's Quality Award for public relations in 1985. He retired from the Company in July 1990.

Jacques and Ellie returned to Southern Maryland where they lived until they moved to Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge in 2004.

Jacques' belief and commitment to community service was legendary. Among his activities were: Charter member St. Thomas Lions Club; Rotary Club of St. Thomas, President 1989-1990; Virgin Islands Toastmasters, Founder and first President; St. Thomas and St. John Chamber of Commerce, Vice President and Director; St. Croix Chamber of Commerce; Virgin Islands Boy Scouts of America; Special Olympics, VI Director; Volunteers for the Visually Handicapped; St. Thomas and St. John Navy League; Advertising Club of St. Thomas; American Legion; St. Thomas Yacht Club; St. Thomas Reformed Church; Harmonic Lodge; Knights Templar; VI Coast Guard Auxiliary.

On returning to the mainland his commitment to community service continued with membership in Rotary, Red Cross, and Coast Guard Auxiliary.

A memorial service will take place in Charlottesville, Virginia at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge Foundation, Hospice of the Piedmont, or ASPCA of Charlottesville, Va.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.