Ellen Estelle Greenwald

Ellen (Stein) Greenwald

April 2, 1940 - December 9, 2025

Ellen Greenwald, born Ellen Stein on April 2, 1940, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of her family. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Ellen carried a vibrant spirit, a sharp mind, and a natural artistic brilliance that shaped her entire life.

From a young age, Ellen displayed an extraordinary talent for the arts. She attended the famed LaGuardia High School (formerly the High School of Performing Arts), where she cultivated her remarkable abilities in music and theater. A musical prodigy, Ellen was an exceptional pianist who could hear a song once and instantly play it by ear, without sheet music. Her creativity extended beyond performance, throughout her life she wrote and directed plays and remained active in community look theater wherever she lived. The arts were her language, her joy, and her way of connecting with the world.

Ellen was incredibly strong-willed, intelligent, and fiercely loyal. She had a boldness that made those around her feel protected and understood, never hesitating to stand up for herself or for the people she loved. With a keen sense of justice and a deep well of compassion, she became a powerful advocate both within her family and in her community. Her work in juvenile detention facilities and as a guardian ad litem reflected her unwavering belief in the potential of young people, especially those facing hardship, and she left a lasting impact on countless lives.

After beginning their life together in New York, Ellen and her beloved husband, Peter, moved to Hollywood, Florida, where they built a warm, lively home. Family was the center of everything Ellen did. She devoted herself to raising her children and later reveled in the joy of becoming a grandmother and great-grandmother. She and Peter shared a love of travel, exploring the world together and embracing cultures near and far. Their adventures created cherished memories and reflected their shared curiosity and openness.

As their family grew, Ellen and Peter sought a haven where everyone could gather. Ellen found that place in Sapphire Valley, North Carolina, where she spent her summers in deep peace and happiness. Surrounded by art, music, and nature, she embraced a community and place that felt like home. Over the years, all of her children and grandchildren visited, filling those summers with love, laughter, and memories that became a treasured part of the family's story.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Miriam and Jack Stein; her husband, Peter Greenwald; and her daughter, Wendy. She is survived by her daughter, Laura Clarke, and husband, Eddie; her son, KC Greenwald, and wife, Jennifer; her brother, Stuart Stein, and wife, Amy; six grandchildren - Jennifer, Andy, Lauren, Katie, Thea, and Kile, and three great-grandchildren; all of whom brought her endless joy.

Ellen will be remembered for her warmth, her generosity, her passion, her intellect, her fierce loyalty, and her creative soul. Her legacy lives on in the family she adored, the friends she treasured, and the many people whose spirits she lifted simply by being herself. She will be profoundly missed and forever loved.