Ellen M. Stepanian

Ellen was born in Elmira, New York on March 16, 1937, to the late Emma and James Stepanian. From an early age Ellen loved music and sang in her church and school choirs.

A graduate of Syracuse University, Ellen earned a bachelor’s degree in education. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Education from Columbia University in New York City, and a second master’s degree in Library Science from Rosary College in Chicago. After working in the Chicago area for several years, Ellen relocated to Ohio.

As the Director of Library Media for the Shaker Heights City School District in Ohio for many years, Ellen became a nationally recognized leader in the field of library service to children. She is, perhaps, best known for her lifetime commitment to improved library services for children and young adults. Mentoring new library media professionals was important to Ellen and she was a role model for many in the field.

Ellen served as a President of the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, and she also served on the prestigious Newbery Award and Caldecott Medal Committees. She was an active member of the Ohio Library Council and a past recipient of the Award of Merit from the Ohio Educational Library Media Association. Ellen also served on the committee that founded the Buckeye Children’s Book Award and the Ohio State Library’s LSTA Advisory Council, since its inception.

Faith, community, and service to others were fundamental to her life. Ellen was a long-time supporter of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, and she devoted a great deal of her time to her church, Church of the Saviour in Cleveland Heights. For many years Ellen worked with the church’s preschool. A talented needlepointer, Ellen also contributed to the creation of new prayer kneelers in the sanctuary.

In her downtime, Ellen loved to escape to the Les Cheneaux Islands with dear friends, spending many enjoyable hours in their circle of love and laughter.

Ellen touched so many lives and will be long remembered for her generosity, beautiful smile, boundless energy, and gift for encouraging everyone she touched.

Ellen was predeceased by her sister, Veronica S. Bartholic; and her brother, Basil J. Stepanian and his wife, Elaine Stepanian.

Ellen is survived by her nephew, David Bartholic and his wife, Mary; niece Meg Stepanian; nephew John Stepanian and his wife, Kate; and great nephew and nieces Ian, Sara, Paige, and Charlotte.