Ellen M. Doughty

Ellen M. Doughty

December 1, 1941 – February 28, 2014

Ellen Mary Doughty, neé Hackett, RN, of Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., died on February 28, 2014 at The Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan at age 72. Ellen, known throughout her life as Lynn, was born December 1, 1941 in New York City and grew up on Taylor Avenue in the Bronx in a large and loving family.

Ellen married Willard E. (Bill) Doughty, who survives her, in 1966 in New York. She also leaves her brother John Hackett and sister-in-law Jeanne of San Antonio, Texas; brother Michael and sister-in-law Pat of Croton-on-Hudson; sister Geraldine and brother-in-law Geoff Blandy of Austin, Texas; son James and daughter-in-law Mary Jo Dunnington of Chapel Hill, N.C.; son Thomas and daughter-in-law Donna of Croton-on-Hudson; son William and daughter-in-law Caroline DeFilippo of Bedford, N.Y.; grandchildren Matthew, Christian, Caitlyn, Fiona, Sarah and Samantha; nephews Michael and Aaron; and niece Ellen.

Ellen was a 1959 graduate of the Villa Maria Academy and a 1961 graduate of the Misericordia School of Nursing, both in the Bronx. She began her 50-year career in pediatric nursing at Misericordia Hospital, and after leaving full-time work to raise her children, returned to become Nursing Director of Pediatrics at Saint Agnes Hospital in White Plains and lastly a longtime team member and nursing educator with the elite pediatric cardiology catheterization lab at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital in Manhattan.

From the late 1970s to the early 1980s, Ellen served in the Croton-Harmon Union-Free School District Parent-Teachers Association and was elected to three terms on the Board of Education, including a term as its president.

Love and caring was Ellen’s profession, whether at the hospital or in her home. The presence of loved ones never failed to light her up from the inside, and in their marriage of almost 48 years, she and Bill set an example of devotion that has guided two generations.

Those who knew Ellen will remember a kind and formidable Irish-American who defied categorization: A true child of the mid-century Bronx who never resided more than 50 miles from her birthplace, but who was always at home on a palm-shaded beach or in the glow of the desert sun. An eternally curious mind who chose a two-year nursing school over an academic degree, but who was the most learned person in almost any room, with a daily habit of completing the New York Times crossword—in pen—in cursive. A dedicated non-athlete whose career as a Yankees fan reached from Mickey Mantle to Mariano Rivera. In our hearts she will always be the sister who brought home extra candy to share, the wife who was always there for Bill, and the mother who taught us always to remember “the most important thing”—that no matter what happens, love never stops.

Ellen’s family is grateful to any friends who wish to honor her, and requests that in lieu of flowers they make donations in her memory to WoundedWarriorProject.org.

Her family will hold a memorial service for friends and family on Sunday, March 9 at 11 a.m. at Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill Mansion, located at 81 Highland Avenue in Tarrytown, N.Y. 10591. For directions, please call (914) 631-3030. GPS address is 200 Gunpowder Lane, Tarrytown, NY 10591.