Eleanor R. Elmore

Waltham – Mrs. Eleanor R. (Ritchie) Elmore, of Waltham, died Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at Maristhill Nursing Home in Waltham. She was 82.

Eleanor, known as Ellie, was born on January 17, 1930 in Hartford, Connecticut, the only child of the late George and Ann (Bedard) Ritchie. She grew up in Wethersfield, Connecticut, where she graduated from the local high school. A lifelong learner, Ellie earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut when she was in her 60's.

She lived most of her life in Manchester, Connecticut, where she and her husband, Martius, or Marsh, raised two children; they moved to Waltham six years ago. For more than twenty years she and Marsh spent summers in Provincetown, where Ellie held court on the patio daily. She seemed to know everyone in the West End, along with the names of their dogs, where they lived in the winter, which restaurant they last worked in, and even the details of the latest drama in their lives. An avid reader who kept independent bookshops in business, Ellie also loved movies and actively second-guessed the judges' selections during the most recent Academy Awards. She was also a sports fan with the inexplicable Nutmeg State penchant for New York teams.

Ellie leaves her husband, Martius L. Elmore; her daughter, Lynn Strano and her husband, Dan, of Binghamton, New York; her son, Todd A. Elmore and his wife, Susan, of Arlington; and her grandson, Jackson Elmore, also of Arlington.

Family and friends will honor and remember Ellie's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, March 2nd, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. and will conclude with a period of memory sharing.

Memorial donations may be made to the Center for Coastal Studies, 115 Bradford Street, Provincetown, MA, 02657, www.coastalstudies.org or to The Provincetown Theater, 238 Bradford St., Provincetown, MA 02657, www.provincetowntheater.org