James E. Ellis

Dr. James E. Ellis, M.D., 81, of Acton, MA died peacefully March 1, 2018. He was the beloved husband of 54 years to Leda (Krat) Ellis. Loving father of John Ellis and wife Tanya of Acton, Tania Ellis of Acton, and Lara Ellis of Acton. Dear grandfather of Alexander, Jamie, Tommy, and Sam Ellis. Brother of Margaret Robbins of FL, Janet Newman and husband Gene of OH, Dr. Robert Ellis of FL, Ronald Ellis and wife Sally of IN, and the late Caro- lyn Porter of IN. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, in-laws and extended relatives and their families. James Edward Ellis, son of Leroy and Effie (Burdine) Ellis, was born and raised in Richmond, IN. He was graduated from Richmond High School in 1954, received his B.A. from Earlham College in 1958 and his M.D. from the University of Chicago in 1962. As a senior medical student at the University of Chicago, Jim was awarded the Sheard-Sanford Award by the Research Commission of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists in 1962 for his research manuscript on Renal Medullary Neurosis. During his internship and residency at the University of Chicago, Dr. Ellis was mentored by Nobel Prize recipient Dr. Charles B. Huggins. His knowledge of medical science and cancer research inspired Jim to pursue the specialty of Urology. Jim wanted to touch the lives of people with the advances in medicine and his work fascinated and excited him. Dr. Ellis was Chief of Urology at the Boston Naval Hospital, Commander in the Medical Corps of the US Navy Reserve, and Clinical Associate at the Boston University School of Medicine from 1968 to 1971 and remained in the US Navy Reserves until 1992. He was offered an opportunity to go into private practice and was an Urologist at Emerson Hospital for 43 years from 1971 to 2014, President of the Medical Staff 1983-1985. Dr. Ellis was also on the active medical staff at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center. He served as President and Chairman of the Board for Emerg, Inc., Diplomate of the American Board of Urology, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, member of the American Association of Clinical Urologists, American Urological Association, American Fertility Society, and American Medical Association. He has published numerous articles on kidney stone disease and urinary diversion. After leaving Emerson Hospital, Jim decided to go back to working with Veterans and was a mentor for the Urology Residency Program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT from 2014-2015. Most of all, Jim loved spending time with his family. He was an amazing father, grandfather and a devoted, loving husband. He met his wife, Leda, which was love at first sight, at the University of Chicago laboratories. They were married in 1963 and had 3 beautiful children John, Tania and Lara, who loved and adored their father. He adored his four grandsons Alex, Jamie, Tommy and Sam. They loved Grandpa because he gave hugs and kisses all the time and enjoyed having cook-outs and playing games in the backyard. Jim was an avid fly fisherman and looked forward to his annual fishing trip to Lakewood Camps in Maine with his friends and family. When not fishing, Jim met regularly with his fishing buddies to share stories about their love of fishing. He also enjoyed garde- ning, golf and sports. He enjoyed movies, opera and classical music. Jim also had a fun-loving, dry sense of humor and loved to tell jokes and share brain teasers with his family. Dr. Ellis was a modest, caring and kind hearted physician who had a love of medicine and treated his patients with respect and compassion. He was a terrific listener and his patients loved him. He had a desire to help others and wanted to make a difference in a persons life and medicine gave him the opportunity to heal. For Jim, medicine was not a profession, it was a passion and a calling. His greatest reward was to be able to help those who needed to be healed. He will truly be missed. Visiting hours will be Wednesday, March 7th from 4-8 pm at the Acton Funeral Home, 470 Massachusetts Ave (Rt 111), Acton, MA. Funeral service Thursday, March 8th at 10 am in St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 57 Brown St., Weston, MA. Burial with military honors following in Woodlawn Cemetery, 104 Concord Rd., Acton, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123. Memorial page www.actonfuneralhome.com.