Hon. William Ellison

ELLISON, Hon. William N., Justice Supreme Court, Retired, passed this life on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at his home in Watkins Glen. Justice Ellison, son of former District Attorney Arthur R. Ellison and former County
Attorney Edwina M. Ellison of Watkins Glen, New York, was born on July 15, 1929. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, former Surrogate's Court Clerk and Court Reporter, Patricia Sullivan Suits Ellison. Also surviving are his children: Harry A. (Melissa) Ellison of Arlington, VA, William N. (Diane) Ellison, Jr. of Farmington, NY, Mary Patricia Ellison of Mountainside NJ, and Anne E. (Jeffrey) Snelling of Palmyra, NY, and grandchildren: Ellen, Mark, Michael, Zack and Rory Ellison and Abigail and Hannah Snelling. Justice Ellison graduated from Watkins Glen Central School, Harpur College and Cornell University Law School. He served as Watkins Glen Acting Village Police Judge, Town of Dix Justice of the Peace, Schuyler County District Attorney, Schuyler County Judge, Surrogate and Family Court Judge and was twice elected to the New York State Supreme Court - the first and only Schuyler County attorney to be elected to the Supreme Court. Upon his retirement, the Schuyler County Courtroom was named in his honor. The Judge was active in the community as a Member and President of the Watkins-Montour Rotary Club and the recipient of its Paul Harris Award. He was also involved in the County Heart Association, the Southern Tier Heart Association, the County Cerebral Palsy Association, the Schuyler County Bar Association, the Watkins Glen Central School PTA, and the Schuyler County Jaycees. He was a Director of the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Corp., and the Treasurer and a Director of the Schuyler Hospital. He was Treasurer during the construction of the Watkins Glen Golf Club, an Exalted Ruler of the Elks Club, a Lieutenant in the Fire Department, a Director of the Special Children's Center in Ithaca, and Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Corning Community College. He holds 50 year memberships in the Schuyler County, New York State and American Bar Associations. He is presently Vice-President of the Watkins Glen Central School District Public Library and Board Member and past President of the Northrup Education Foundation. Justice Ellison was committed to upholding the rule of law, to fairness to all lawyers and litigants who appeared before him and above all, a love for family and of the area where he spent his life. The family will receive friends and relatives at the Royce-Chedzoy Funeral Home, 212 E. 4th St., Watkins Glen, on Tuesday (May 29th) from 3:00-6:00pm. His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 30th at 10am with Rev. Paul Bonacci, Celebrant at St. Mary's of the Lake Church, 905 N. Decatur St., Watkins Glen; with committal services at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary's of the Lake Church, Restoration Fund, P.O. Box 289, Watkins Glen, NY 14891; or the Northrup Educational Foundation, Inc., c/o President Brian J. O’Donnell, 101 Willow Dr., Watkins Glen, NY 14891, in memory of Hon. William N. Ellison. You may express condolences to the family or “Light a Candle” in his memory online at www.Royce-Chedzoy.com.