Shan Ellentuck died at her home in Roosevelt, NJ on September 17, 2020, at the age of 89. Shan attended Antioch from 1948 to 1951 where she studied Art and Creative Writing. In 1953 she traveled to France to marry her college sweetheart Bert Ellentuck, Class of ’51, who was stationed in Verdun, France with the USA Corps of Engineers.
In August 1953 they were reunited in America. Soon after they traveled to Raleigh, NC, where Bert was enrolled in the N.C. State College School of Architecture courtesy of the G I Bill. Soon after they arrived in Raleigh they had their first of 4 children.
In order to supplement the meager stipend from the Army and the wages that Bert’s part-time employment brought in, Shan found work with a small advertising agency in Raleigh doing copy-writing and spot art. A second child arrived but Shan continued working.
In 1957 Bert graduated, found work in New Jersey and the family moved. Soon 2 more children arrived. In order to keep herself fully occupied Shan began to write and to illustrate children’s books. She had 5 or 6 books published to great acclaim.
After the third and fourth children arrived, Shan decided that the family could use a steady income so she went to work as an artist and writer at an advertising agency in Princeton. When it became clear that she was not appreciated, she and a partner started their own advertising firm in Princeton called Ellentuck and Springer. Shan did all the creative and her partner, Jim Springer, handled the business affairs. They were enormously successful with such clients as the Wall Street Journal and TV Guide winning awards for their work.
Shan also served a term as President of the New York Creative Guild. Shan didn’t forget to work for her community — Member and President of the School Board, illustrator and writer for the community newspaper and general all around helper for friends and neighbors.
“She was an ornament to society and a jewel in the bosom of her community “
She never did graduate from Antioch because she missed passing a science class. Her family and dear friends miss her. She lived a long and full life — Bert, Jeff, Kin, Tamar and Rebecca Ellentuck