Elaine Ellison

Elaine Ellison, 74,  passed away on Thursday, November 14 at the Reading Hospital. Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of Bubber T. Ellison and Julia Mae (Copeland) Ellison. She graduated from the Exeter School District.  She furthered her education by receiving her Bachelors degree from Kutztown University and her Master’s degree.  All of which was put to good use after being hired by the Pottstown School District.  After retiring from Pottstown, she coached at Exeter High School. 

For 30 years, she had been the high school girls track and field coach, and the high school girls tennis coach (for 18 years).  At the middle school, she coached the girls basketball team for 28 years. As the basketball coach, she finished with three undefeated seasons. She remarked, “it’s very hard to have one undefeated season, but three is remarkable!”  Elaine loved teaching basketball fundamentals to the young middle school players which got them “hooked on the game.” 

Pottstown High School Athletic Director Gary Direnzo called Elaine a true trailblazer.  “The reality about Elaine is she has done what very few people do, she was a pioneer for African-American women to get into education and to get into coaching at a very young age.“ He also stated “the fact that she stayed in it for so long and coached three sports is unheard of anymore from anybody. You just can’t find coaches that coach three sports. I have a lot of respect for her being an educator and a coach for that period of time is extremely commendable and just amazing.”

Elaine will be missed by many, but surely most by the children and young high school ladies she taught so much in the classroom, on the track and field, tennis courts and hardwood. Pottstown girls varsity coach John Chernesky stated that “she was more than a coach, she was a mom to them a lot of the time.  She promoted basketball to them and a lot of girls stayed with basketball and enjoyed it just because coach Ellison was there.  She was so important to the kids lives beyond basketball.” 
After more than three decades of teaching and coaching, it was time to retire and explore other avenues life had to offer. 

Elaine is survived by brother BJ (Lolene) Ellison of Birdsboro Pa. Sister Barbara (Mel) Bowling of Maryland,  Patricia Ellison of Wyomissing, Pa.,  Joan Ellison of Wyomissing, Pa., and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. 

She was pre-deceased by her mother Julia Mae (Copeland) Ellison, her Father, Bubber T. Ellison, Sister Mary (Ellison) Edney of South Carolina, Brother Jeff Ellison of Arizona and nephew Brian Ellison of Reading.

Memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 23 at the Harris Funeral Home, 222 N. Front St., Reading, PA.  Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM until the time of service.

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