Ellen Mulvey

1920 - 2017

Ellen Hart Mulvey

RHINEBECK - Ellen Hart Mulvey, 96, Rhinebeck, New York, passed away on August 16 at the Baptist Home at Brookmeade.

Ellen was born on October 21, 1920 at Vassar Hospital, Poughkeepsie, to Mr. Herbert F. and Mrs. Sara (Sally) Forman Hart. Her father and grandfather together built one of Poughkeepsie's first steam cars in 1893, a picture of which is lodged with the Adriance Memorial Library. The family laboratory (Frederick Hart Inc., originally located on Main Street, Poughkeepsie) produced precision tools and measuring equipment and was to become closely associated with Computer Tabulating Recording Company (CTR) which, in 1924, became IBM.

Ellen attended local public schools (Oakwood and Knox) before she entered Skidmore College from which she received a bachelor of arts degree in sociology in 1944. She completed graduate studies at the Bank Street School in New York City and received a master in arts in education from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1955. She taught in New Orleans, Louisiana from 1945 until 1949. In World War II, she served as a volunteer in the American Red Cross Motor Corps in Louisiana.

Upon returning to New York State, she taught at the Child Education Foundation in New York City and was later named Executive Director of the Dutchess County Girl Scouts Council.

In 1963, she married Poughkeepsie native Edward A. Mulvey. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Toronto, Canada where they lived for ten years until his death in 1974. Soon thereafter, she returned to Poughkeepsie where she was a noted community volunteer and philanthropist. She was a member of the Board of Trustees of Vassar Brothers Medical Center and an Emeritus Trustee of the Vassar Brothers Medical Center Foundation Board. She volunteered numerous hours at the hospital and was also active in the Vassar Auxilary. She also dedicated several years serving on the Board of the Poughkeepsie Children's Home. She was a former member of the Junior League of Poughkeepsie, Poughkeepsie Tennis Club, Dutchess Golf Club and Reformed Dutch Church of Poughkeepsie

Ellen is survived by her great niece, Ann Chambers Meagher and her son, Jack Mulvey Meagher (Millbrook) and Mary Beth Kean and her two children, Evan Kean and Olivia Kean (Austin, Texas), as well as many cousins. She had many friends, not the least of which was Agnes Burnett, Rhinebeck, NY, who provided invaluable assistance to Ellen particularly over the past several years, when living independently became more of a challenge.

There will be no calling hours. A graveside service will take place at 11 AM, on Monday, August 21, 2017 at the family plot in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Parmele, Auchmoody and Schoonmaker Funeral Home, Fulton Avenue, Poughkeepsie.

She asked that expressions of sympathy and contributions in her name be directed to Vassar Brothers Medical Center Foundation, 45 Reade Place, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or the Children's Home of Poughkeepsie, 40 Children's Way, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.

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