Uno Founding Professor James Ellis Is Dead At 69
Times Picayune 09-1-1996

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Professor of mathematicsJames W. Ellis, one of the founding faculty members of
Louisiana State University in New Orleans (now the University of New Orleans),
died Friday of a heart attack at his home.

Mr. Ellis, who retired as an associate provost at UNO, was 69.

Mr. Ellis was born in Brazil and lived in New Orleans for many years. He
received a bachelor's degree in mathematics at Wofford College in Spartanburg,
S.C., in 1948, and master's and doctoral degrees at Tulane University in 1951
and 1952.

At Tulane, he was the holder of an Atomic Energy Commission Pre-Doctoral
Fellowship.

As an undergraduate, he was elected to the Blue Key leadership fraternity;
Delta Phi Alpha, a German honor society; and Pi Gamma Mu, a social science
honor society. He was also a member of the American Mathematical Society and
the Mathematical Association of America.

Prior to joining the UNO faculty, he served on the mathematics faculty at
Florida State University, where he held offices in several honor societies.

He served as sergeant in the Army from 1953 to 1955. He joined the faculty at
LSUNO as associate professor of mathematics in 1958, served as professor and
chairman of the department of mathematics from 1961 to 1964, was dean of the
junior division from 1964 to 1988 and was appointed associate provost in 1989.

Mr. Ellis was a member of the Louisiana State University System Committee on
Acceptance of Credits from 1969 until his retirement in 1994.

He was a charter member, treasurer and president of the UNO Founders Club. He
was honored as administrator of the year by the UNO Association of Educational
Office Professionals.

He was a member of the Cornerstone United Methodist Church, a member of the
board of directors of the Wesley Campus Ministry and was an officer of the
Lake Area Public School Improvement Association in the 1970s.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Brock Ellis; three daughters, Cynthia Ellis,
Wendy Ellis of St. Louis, and Marcia Ellis of New York; and a grandchild.

A funeral will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Cornerstone United Methodist
Church, 5276 Bullard Ave. Visitation will be Monday from 6 to 9 p.m. at All
Faiths Funeral Home, 5200 Canal Blvd. Burial will be in Metairie Cemetery.