Ellen Shepherd

1932 - 2025

Early Saturday morning, October 4, 2025, Ellen Shepherd peacefully passed in her sleep. Born in 1932 in San Marino, CA, Ellen was married for 64 years to her husband, Harry, who predeceased her in 2020.
Both UC Berkeley graduates, Harry and Ellen married right out of college, remained in Northern California, and had a long, loving and supportive partnership for 64 years, steeped in mutual respect and laughter. The mother of six children, she was an elementary school teacher for more than a decade, taught English as a second language, and continued to mentor others throughout her life. A grateful and vibrant member of the Sonoma community, Ellen is survived by her sister, Enid, five of her six grown children,12 grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren.
A consummate bridge player and an avid reader, she remained active in both her bridge and book clubs until the very end. However, her true passion, for the past 25 years, has been The National AIDS Memorial Grove in San Francisco, where she met other volunteer gardeners on a monthly basis to manicure the grounds, and remember their loved ones in this stunning, seven-acre sanctuary. As such, the family respectfully request that any donations be made to the AIDS Grove in lieu of flowers: aidsmemorial.org.