Ellen Kander

1961 - 03

Ellen Weiss Kander passed away Tuesday, June 5, 2012, after a brave, year-long battle with cholangia carcinoma, a rare cancer, at the age of 51. Born March 28, 1961, Ellen graduated from Allderdice and went on to study urban affairs and planning at George Washington University. She then earned a law degree from Boston University in 1987. Her future husband, Gregg Kander, could not help noticing her beautiful hair as he sat behind her in contracts class. After law school, the pair moved to New York City, where Ellen worked as special counsel to the derivative securities division at the American Stock Exchange. She would later insist that she had nothing to do with the invention or use of credit default swaps. She returned to Squirrel Hill in 1993 in order to be close to her extended family and to raise her three children. Ellen had an extremely rich civic life. She served on the board of directors for the Jewish Community Center, the Israeli Film Festival and the Pittsburgh Children's Museum. She especially loved her work with the Hebrew Free Loan Association, an organization that grants interest-free loans to individuals and families in need. In 2002, Ellen co-founded and served as the executive director of the Steeltown Entertainment Project, a nonprofit organization that leverages the talent of a group of Pittsburgh-born entertainment visionaries in order to give back to the city. Most recently, she co-founded Cancer Be Glammed, a website that provides women undergoing surgery and treatment with advice and easy access to apparel and gifts to recover in comfort and style. She is also an alumna of the Wexner Heritage Leadership Program. Ellen's accomplishments were myriad, but all those that knew her and there are so many will remember her most for her beauty, her vivacity, her warmth, her sense of humor and the kindness that she showed toward every person she met. Those who were lucky enough to know Ellen saw in her an inspiring example of life lived to the fullest and for whom she was an irreplaceable presence. She celebrated her 25th anniversary this year with her devoted husband, Gregg. Her children, Ben, Jacob and Kate; her parents, Jack and Andy Weiss; her sister, Stacy (Will Carpenter); her brother, Lou (Amy) Weiss; her extended family; and countless friends survive Ellen. Services at 11 a.m. Friday at Temple Sinai, 5505 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill. No prior visitation. Entombment at Homewood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ellen Weiss Kander Award Fund, Pittsburgh Foundation, 5 PPG Place, Suite 250, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-5414 www.pittsburghfoundation.org),">(www.pittsburghfoundation.org), to benefit aspiring filmmakers. Arrangements entrusted to RALPH SCHUGAR CHAPEL INC., www.schugar.com">rel="nofollow" href="http://www.schugar.com">www.schugar.com