Frederick Ellis Jr.

February 2, 1936 - October 24, 2019

Frederick H. Ellis, Jr., aged 83, passed away on October 24, 2019 in Reno, Nevada, with his loving wife at his side. Born in Baltimore, Rick, as he was known, was raised in the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire. He was proud to be a descendant of Nicholas Gilman, who signed the Constitution of the United States, and served in the House of Representatives and then as Senator of New Hampshire from 1805-1814. Rick, too, had a passion for politics, dedicating his energies to the peace movement of the 1960s and early 1970s in both Freeport and the San Francisco Bay Area, where he moved with his first wife and their four children in 1971. He said he would like to be remembered as "a radical Catholic, economic Marxist and revolutionary Democrat who to tried to bring justice and equality to the planet-De Colores." He received his Bachelor's degree from Villanova University in Pennsylvania, and his MBA from Armstrong College in Berkeley, California. He leaves behind his wife Joaquina Mcrea and her three children Carlos, Meylin, and Andrin; and three daughters from his first marriage-Libby Ellis of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, Heather Ellis of San Diego, California (mother of Daniel and Sonia), and Rachel Ellis of San Leandro, California (mother of Sophia). Rick was preceded in death by his son, Frederick H. Ellis III, his parents, Frederick H. Ellis, Sr. and Ethel "Bonnie" Ellis of Freeport, Illinois, and his sister, Deidre Epps. A mass will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2019 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church at 11 AM, with burial immediately following at Calvary Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 10 AM until the time of service. Arrangements made by Burke-Tubbs in Freeport, Illinois.