Arthur Shumway Ellison

Art was born on October 7, 1943 to Lowell Ellison and Della Shumway Stapleton and spent his childhood in Ludlow, Vermont. After graduating high school, Art went on to attend Earlham College, graduate school at Northwestern University, and University of Massachusetts where he earned his Doctorate of Education.

Art married Susan Gladstone in 1973 and in 1978 they moved to Concord where they raised two children. Susan passed away from complications from HIV in 1992.

Art worked for 38 years as the State Director of Adult Education while remaining active in local, state and national political campaigns. He worked regularly with the SEIU to help elect candidates who were committed to protecting the labor rights of NH residents. He also served for seven years on the board of the Highlander Research and Education Center, which supports grassroots efforts for justice and equality. During his free time, Art could be found playing basketball at the Green Street Community Center and YMCA.

Shortly after retiring, in 2019 Art began his first of three terms in the NH House of Representatives, where he served proudly with his democratic colleagues on the Education Committee. Art often shared two quotes, one from the labor activist Joe Hill, “Don’t mourn, organize,” and the other from Mother Jones, “Pray for the dead, fight like hell for the living.”

Art leaves behind his partner of 25 years, Sally Varney, two children Jeremy Ellison-Gladstone and Anna (Brian) Bates, three grandchildren Camden and Abby Bates and Hazel Ellison-Gladstone, and his sister, Llyn Ellison.

A celebration of Art’s life will be held on April 7th at noon at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to provide meals for the hungry at https://www.thefriendlykitchen.org/.