Steven L. Ellis

KEENE, NH -- Steven L. Ellis has passed to the next life on Sept. 23, 2012 in Keene, NH, after having been sick with cancer for over a year.

Steven was born on December 16, 1966 in western New York state and became the youngest son of Harold Lloyd Ellis and Frances (Gunder) Ellis. As a boy, the family lived in Ransomville, NY, on an orchard lot with a mid-nineteenth century house. He often credited this house with initiating his lifelong love of history.

At age 10, he and the family moved to a suburb of Sacramento, CA where he came of age, graduated from Cordova Senior High School and entered the Navy at age 19. After four years of deployments on two aircraft carriers (USS Midway and USS Independence) including the Persian Gulf War, Steven was honorably discharged and began his academic studies.

While attending college he met the love of his life and eventual wife, Noelle A. Kruger. Graduating from both American River College and Sacramento State University, Steven took his baccalaureate in history to Albany, NY with his young family, embarking on his chosen career field working in libraries, archives and museums.

While in Albany, Steven worked at the Albany Medical College, the New York State Museum, Renssellear Polytechnic Institute, and the WW II Museum Ship USS Slater.

Steven then brought his family back to Sacramento to work in the information technology field and the McGeorge School of Law Library. When his cousins in Keene, NH needed someone to raise two sons to be left alone by cancer, he and his family answered the call, moving east again.

He was employed at Keene State College, and helped his wife promote her gallery shop off Main Street. Until recently, he had worked with the Moving Company and helped in starting the Keene Fusion Studios. Steven was honored to be appointed by Mayor Dale Pregent to the Bicycle Pedestrian Pathways Advisory Committee for the City of Keene in 2008 and to be invited to join the board of directors for Pathways For Keene. He was also on the Safe Routes To School Ad-Hoc Committee and worked with Monadnock Regional Transportation Management Association.

Steven was always happiest riding his bike in town or on the local rail trails. He also participated in French and Indian War re-enactments with the 78th Regiment of Foot, Fraser’s Highlanders and volunteered his time for research and promotion at the Historical Society of Cheshire County.

Steven is survived by his wife, Noelle; sons, Nygel and Duncan; daughter, Scarlett; cousin, Will Schoefmann; brother, Jon Ellis of Sacramento; many other family members; best friends, Greg Pregent and Christie Wright, among many other friends.

He was preceded in death by many, but none more tragically than Ian Schoefmann, whom he considered a son.