Ellen M. Doyle

Ellen M. Doyle, age 75, died September 26, 2025. After graduating from Emma Willard School in Troy, New York, she attended Wellesley College for two years before transferring to Northeastern University where she graduated with B.A. She then received her J.D. from Northeastern Law School in 1975. She followed her husband, Lawrence A. Frolik, to Pittsburgh where he was hired as an assistant professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She was hired as the executive director of the greater Pittsburgh chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She was next employed at the Pennsylvania Commission on Human Relations office in Pittsburgh. Ellen went on to join and later became a partner of Malakoff, Doyle and Finberg. Ultimately, she became a partner in the firm of Feinstein, Doyle, Payne & Kravec, where she worked until she retired. As a lawyer, Ellen's career focused on championing economic justice and defending civil rights. She took great pleasure and pride in winning significant judgments for plaintiffs against insurance companies, pension plans and financial institutions that denied their employees the benefits they had earned. Ellen was highly regarded by her legal peers. A member of the board of the Women's Law Project once said of her that she "refuses to just remain on the sidelines; instead she confronts, educates and advocates for change." Ellen was honored with a special merit award by the Women in the Law Division of the Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA). Ellen also was a recipient of the ACBA's Carol Los Mansmann Helping Hand Award. Most recently, she was awarded the Gerri Kay Silver Advocate Award by ACLU-PA Greater Pittsburgh Chapter. For several years, Ellen served as the chair of the Fourth Ward Democratic Committee in Pittsburgh. She also was on the board of Persad Center, Pennsylvania Abortion Rights Action League and the Women's Law Project. She had an incurable love of festivities, especially anything that required a costume. She never could resist anything with excessive sequins. But her greatest joy
was her family: Her husband of 52 years, Larry, and her two children, Winnefred Frolik and Cornelius Frolik (spouse Alissa Frolik). Funeral and interment will be private. Arrangements by John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc. (freyvogelfuneralhome.com)