DELRAY BEACH — Ellen Kelly Dickson died surrounded by family on Sept. 24 after a battle with cancer. She was 71.
Ellen was born Nov. 5, 1951, in Boston and raised in Dedham, Massachusetts, by Edward and Josephine Kelly. She grew up in a vibrant and busy household with seven younger brothers. Her parents had lived through World War II and pursued careers in social work. They instilled a deep commitment to community in Ellen at an early age.
Both of her parents received master’s degrees from Boston College, and her dad spent his career with the Massachusetts Welfare System after serving under Patton in Africa and Europe during World War II.
Ellen made her mark at an early age. She attended the University of Massachusetts Boston where her drive to get involved in organizational community activities was evident.
She became the first student trustee at UMass Boston, gaining the same voting power as the rest of the board. She was also chair of the organization “18 by 72,” an effort to change the voting age in Massachusetts to 18 by 1972, which was accomplished. She graduated in 1973 and was a speaker at her class commencement exercises for UMass Boston. She was credited with having “served with distinction as a university trustee. She has been a positive activist at this university and has shown insights and interest in academic student affairs.”
Before entering the MBA program at Babson College in September 1975, she followed her parents’ path into social work. In her first semester at Babson, she met the love of her life, Henry “Chip” Dickson, in her classes. After graduation in May 1977, Ellen and Chip started married life in Cleveland, where she began her career in portfolio management and where the couple’s three children were born.
Ellen and Chip moved to Summit, New Jersey, in 1993 and called it home for 25 years after two years in Chicago. In Summit, Ellen served as mayor during a time that included Hurricane Sandy, which demanded her constant presence. Her service included six years on City Council, several years on the Zoning Board, president of the PTO of a local elementary school and high school and support of various other organizations like Rotary.
Some of the awards she received included Boy Scouts of America “Good Scout” Award in 2011 and in 2012, the Summit Business and Professional Women honored her as Woman of the Year.
In 2018 they moved to Florida, where Ellen joined the boards of the Beach Property Owners’ Association of Delray Beach and the Florida Coalition for Preservation.
Ellen’s greatest joys were her family and friends. A true extrovert, she had a talent for getting to know people and never met a stranger. She fielded daily phone calls from her adult children and loved her life as “Grandma.” She has instilled her kindness and love of Cape Cod in her grandchildren over the last seven years.
Ellen was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Her spirit lives on with husband of 46 years, Henry “Chip” Dickson; children Laura Goldstein and her husband, Justin, Julia LaTaille and her husband, Jim, and Henry Dickson Jr. and his wife, Amanda Yang-Dickson; brothers Ed, Tom, Fred, Jim, Frank, Chris and John; sisters-in-law Lina, Sue, Marianne, Dotty, Mona, Claudia, Tracy, Joy, Andrea and Wendy and brothers-in-law Bart and Ace; grandchildren James, Elliot, Martín, Mila, Nora, Ella and Dylan; 24 nieces and nephews, and a large network of family and friends. Ellen was predeceased by her parents, Edward and Josephine Kelly.
A memorial service was held Sept. 30 at Grace Church of East Dennis in Dennis, Massachusetts, followed by a celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to umb.edu/dicksonscholarship.
A service later in the year will be held in the Delray Beach area.
— Obituary submitted by the family
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