Joseph
Ellovich passed away, surrounded by his family, on May 12, 2025, at
Wake Robin in Shelburne, Vt. He was born in 1929 to Philip and Miriam
Ellovich in Sharon, Pa. His family includes children Susan (Floyd)
Fay and Wendel (Julia) Foerster; grandchildren Claire (Joel) Feldman
Visser, Gustave (Jacqueline) Feldman, Jessica Fay, Joshua Fay,
Magdeline (Peter) Hume and Georgia (Troy) Hume; eight
great-grandchildren; sister Marcia Frumerman; and nieces and nephews.
In
addition to his parents’ passing, Joe mourned the loss of his
beloved wife, Betty; his sister Rosa Parfrey; brothers-in-law Woodrow
Parfrey and Robert Frumerman; and nephew Adam Parfrey.
Joe
graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in 1951. After
serving aboard the USS Wasp as a communications officer during
the Korean War, he was transferred to the Naval Station Green Cove
Springs Florida, where he served as communications officer,
officer-in charge of the Officers Club and basketball coach. It was
during that time that he met Betty, and they were married in
Jacksonville, Fla., where they lived until moving to Vermont in 1985.
After
working in sales for Moore Business Forms and serving as manager for
King Sales Co., Joe founded the Parts House, Inc. in 1970. He sold
the Parts House in 1984.
Along
with Betty, Joe found great joy in his retirement in Vermont,
spending quality time with grandchildren Claire and Gus. He also
assisted Betty with her antiques business, doing shows in New England
and New York.
Joe
believed in serving worthy endeavors. He served on the boards of
Parent/Child Center of Addison County and Howard Center. He was a
supporter of the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Americans
United for Separation of Church and State, and other organizations.
In college, prior to the Civil Rights Movement, he organized with his
peers to desegregate restaurants.
Joe
was notably sociable, striking up conversations with whomever he
encountered. Joe was a loving and generous husband, father and
grandfather. He remained interested and involved in the lives of his
family and was always available to offer support and guidance. His
surviving family misses him dearly.
Joe
requested that no service be held after his death, but family and
friends recall the times and experiences they shared with him. In
lieu of flowers, his family requests that those wishing to express
sympathy make a donation to the Southern Poverty Law Center in the
name of Joseph Ellovich. Please visit awrfh.com to share your
memories and condolences.