Dr. Daniel Case Ellison

It is with heavy, but grateful, hearts that we share with you that Dr. Daniel Case Ellison, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday, September 28th after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

Born on December 2, 1946, Dan and his family moved to Rome, NY in his youth. It was there that he met the love of his life and wife of 58 years, Susan Benson. Dan graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Biology in 1968. In 1973, he graduated from Upstate University Hospital SUNY-Health Science Center, then completed his medical internship and residency at the University of Connecticut, and went on to become a general surgeon. Dan always had a deep desire to help people and knew that a career in healthcare would allow him to do that best.

After completing an externship at Lewis County General Hospital in the summer of 1972, Dan and Sue knew without question that Lowville was the place they wanted to make their home and raise their young family. They returned to Lowville in 1978 to begin his surgical practice. For decades, Dan cared for countless families as a general surgeon, combining his experience and wisdom with unwavering compassion. To provide the highest quality of medical care possible, Dan was a member of the Lewis County Medical Society, a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at SUNY Health Science Center and an American College of Surgeons Governor. More than anything, though, he wanted his patients to feel heard and truly cared for.

Outside of his practice, Dan wholeheartedly embraced the close-knit community that Lowville provided. He was a Life Member of Lowville Elks Lodge 1605, playing in the Thursday-night golf league for many years; served on the Lowville Academy Board of Education from 1985 - 2000, including one year as President; and was a devoted parishioner of Saint Peter's Catholic Church.

With his family and friends, Dan was always ready for laughter and good company. He found joy in the most basic elements of life and always reminded us that it was the people beside him who made those moments so meaningful. He loved skiing, sailing, canoeing, grilling, Yankee's baseball, traveling, capturing life through the lens of his camera, and just spending time outdoors at his Adirondack home on Chase Lake. Most of all, he cherished time with the people he loved. Some of our most treasured memories are the many summers spent together on Nantucket, our favorite place on earth, where Dan's enthusiasm taught us all how the simplest things in life are also the most precious.

Dan is lovingly remembered by his wife, Susan Benson Ellison; his three daughters and sons-in-law, Mary and Tom Compo (Lowville, NY), Kathryn Ellison and James McCauley (Lowville, NY), and Anne and Corry Unis (Monroe, CT); and his seven grandchildren, Michael and Elizabeth Compo, Mary and John McCauley, and Molly, Jack, and Ainsley Unis.

A Funeral Mass honoring Dan's life will be held on Wednesday, October 1st at 10:30 am at Saint Peter's Catholic Church. Following his burial at Lowville Rural Cemetery, a celebration of his life will be held at the Lowville Elks Lodge, where family, friends, and community members are warmly invited to gather in remembrance of a man who gave so much of himself to others. Food contributions will be gratefully accepted at the Elks Lodge after 9 am on Wednesday.

To know Dan was to witness what a life of service and generosity looks like. His legacy isn't just in the work he did, but in the love he shared with everyone around him. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the St. Peter's Church Memorial Fund, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America and the Lewis County Hospital Foundation, ensuring that Dan's lifelong commitment to healing and care continues in his memory.

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