Linda Ellett

LINDA ELLETT PARTNER AND FOUNDER OF L’ESPERANCE TILE WORKS (WWW.LESPERANCETILEWORKS.COM) ROCK CITY FALLS, NY - Nationally recognized ceramic artist Linda Ellett, partner of L’esperance Tile Works, which she founded in Albany in 1979, died peacefully on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at Albany Medical Center from complications of cancer. She was surrounded by her loving husband, Donald Shore, her son, Harrison Shore, and her devoted family members. Linda was the third generation of business owners in her family. Her father Bud founded Charles J. Ellett & Son Insurance & Real Estate, and her grandmother Elizabeth (Hope) Collopy was a furrier. L’esperance Tile Works was founded by Linda with a small legacy from her grandmother. She married Donald Shore in 1987 and together they built L’esperance into a nationally renowned tile-making atelier specializing in historic ceramic tile reproduction known for the highest standards of quality and design. L’esperance expanded into its Saratoga headquarters in 1998 and celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2015. Linda’s artistry in carving and her expertise in the complex chemistry of glaze-matching can be seen in statehouses and historic buildings across the country, including the New York State Capitol building, the Ohio Statehouse and many historic homes such as the Mark Twain home in Connecticut, the James Thurber home in Ohio, the Frederic Church home Olana and the Daniel Webster home in Massachusetts. Linda was born in Lansingburgh, NY on November 21, 1954 and received her BFA in Ceramic Arts from Alfred University. Following an apprenticeship with the Moravian Pottery Works in Doylestown, PA, she returned to the Albany region to open her own shop. Linda was deeply engaged in the local arts scene in Albany and Saratoga and was an active supporter of dramatic productions at Ballston Spa High School. She was an early member of the Etsy.com community and formed strong relationships with customers and other artists. Linda embraced the beauty of the upstate region, delighting in family boat trips on the Nancy Lyn, swimming in Lake George, hiking in the Adirondacks, spending summers with her mother and grandmother at the Wiawaka Center for Women, and gardening in the sunlit oasis of her own backyard along the Kayaderosseras Creek. Linda is survived by her husband and business partner of over 28 years, Donald W. Shore of Rock City Falls; her devoted son, Harrison Tyler (Harry) Shore of New York City; her ever-loving mother Alice Jane (Collopy) Ellett of Waterford; her four surviving siblings, Nancy Ellett-Crosby (Kenneth N. Crosby) of Greenwich, NY, Charles (Chuck) Jay Ellett (Norine Goodell) of Waterford, William (Bill) Patrick Ellett (Katherine Hild) of Mohrsville, PA, and Thomas (Tom) Edmund Ellett, PhD (Gladys Vallespir) of New York City. She was pre-deceased by her father, Charles James “Bud” Ellett, her eldest brother James Thomas Ellett and her mother-in-law Harriett Shore. She also leaves behind her caring nieces and nephews: Allison Crosby Perkins and her husband Landon Perkins, Tessa Nin Crosby; Elizabeth Hope Ellett, Erika Lin Hudgens and her husband John Hudgens, Emily Norine Ellett; Alicia Viviane Wengert and her husband Matthew Wengert, Janet Ellett, Margaret Eliege Ellett; Christian James Ellett, Alexander Joseph Ellett; Frederic (Jake) Freyer; Brendan Illis, Sarah Illis, Peter Illis and Kathryn Illis; and Victor Tomelden; as well as great-nephews Cooper Jay Hudgens, Nicholas William Wengert and Damian Clark Ellett and great-nieces Lillian Victoria Hudgens and Eliege A. Ellett. Linda will be deeply missed by her husband’s family – by her father-in-law Major Bruce J. Shore USMC (Ret) of Schenectady, Laura Shore and her partner Nancy Ota of Altamont, Bob Shore of Schoharie County, Jaye Shore and Frederick Freyer of Eastchester, and Margaret Shore Illis and William Illis of Berkeley Heights, NJ. Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours on Friday, January 29 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel at Oakwood Cemetery, 186 Oakwood Avenue, Troy, NY, which will be immediately followed by a Celebration of Life ceremony at the Chapel. Linda’s family would like to thank all of her friends for the support and love they have offered her in these recent months. In lieu of flowers, donations for outstanding medical expenses may be made at www.youcaring.com/in-memory-of-linda-ellett-shore-509137# Funeral arrangements have been entrusted by the family to the John J. Sanvidge Funeral Home, Inc., 565 Fourth Avenue, Troy, NY (518-235-0952).