Dave M. Ellis, PhD
November 5, 1937 – August 3, 2024
Zen Buddhist Text
The Master of the art of living
Makes little distinction between
His work and his play,
his labor and his leisure,
his mind and his body,
his education and his recreation,
his love and his religion.
He hardly knows which is which.
He simply pursues
his vision of excellence
in whatever he does,
Leaving others to decide
Whether he is working or playing.
To him he is always doing both.
David was born in Ithaca, NY, the oldest of four children born to Gordon and Olive (Miller) Ellis. The family moved to Haverford, PA where he graduated from high school. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in engineering science and worked at Burroughs Corp. in Media, PA.
He decided to pursue a master’s and a doctorate degree in engineering and physics, graduating with a PhD from the University of Washington in 1988.
During this time, he married Barbara Mitchell, who he met in a ski club in PA. He taught at the University of Vermont for four years before leaving to work for HP Medical in Waltham, MA. David holds several patents with Burroughs and HP Medical as well as a consultant with Degree Controls in NH.
While in Vermont he took up glider flying, which led to consulting for a small company building instruments for gliders. He and Barbara bought the company when he became disenchanted with HP and they moved the company, and their family, to Warren, VT. Cambridge-Aero grew to 10 people with a worldwide customer base.
During this time David became interested in GPS and developed the first GPS flight recorder for scoring competitions. As a result, they traveled extensively and have friends in many countries.
After moving to Patagonia, Dave became involved with Borderlands Restoration Network, served on the board of the Patagonia Regional Times and volunteered as a member of the Dirt Bags, helping with building and maintaining local trails. He also volunteered with Friends of Sonoita Creek.
He was very concerned about how the Hermosa mining project would affect the Town’s water supply and made friends at ADEQ.
David leaves Barbara, his beloved wife of 61 years, his daughter Kathryn, son James (Jay), Jay’s wife Wendy, and their daughters Riley and Lauren. He also leaves his brother Pete, sister Sue, and her husband Warren Bakley. He is predeceased by his parents, his brother John, and son Charles.
Dave had a mind for Curiosity, Confusion, Persistence, Connection, Conclusion (CCPCC). He was a scientist to the end.
No service is planned at this time.