Ellsworth E Jackson

July 5, 1926 - November 6, 2015

The Reverend Dr. Ellsworth E. Jackson Jr (Sunny), of Greentown, Pennsylvania passed peacefully on

Friday November 6th, 2015. Born in Philadelphia, Ellsworth grew up in Germantown with his parents,

Jean Knox Jackson and his father, Rev. Ellsworth E. Jackson, and his three siblings. This year marked

Ellsworth’s sixty-fifth year as a member of the Presbytery. Those who’ve gone before him include his

Parents, beloved sister, Eleanor Jean, and wives, respectively, Dorothy Southam Jackson and Julia

Dispenza. Ellsworth attended the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton Theological Seminary, and

completed his doctoral studies at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. His time at Edinburgh sealed

his life-long love of travel in the U.S, and around the world. In a journal he wrote, “My best trip was a

10,000 mile, three month junket in my Morris Minor car to Israel and the Middle East.” As a young

minister he participated in an 11 week summer experience serving in Japan. Another summer, he

and his family exchanged churches and homes with a minister (and family) from Dunfermline, Scotland.

Ellsworth led congregations in Pittsburgh, PA, Wilmington, DE, Fort Schuyler, NY, Marksboro, NJ, and

Scranton, PA. During the 1960’s in Wilmington, he provided key leadership in building an Ecumenical

community of church leaders to deal with civil rights and other issues of the times. After a decade of

ministering in Wilmington, he was called to teach and work with young people as Director of Admissions

at Queensborough Community College in NYC, later teaching World History at New York Institute of

Technology. An avid reader and student of life, he embraced all religions and cultures, especially Eastern

and Native American. He loved being in nature, and especially loved living in his simple mountain house

in Greentown where he enjoyed the last 20 + years; gathering wood, tapping maple trees, walking, and

always a cold dip in the spring-fed pond in summer. Ellsworth was indeed a sunny, free spirit who

welcomed all as a friend. Always smiling, ready for a sing-a-long, a life-long practitioner of gratitude for

the beauty of life and love of family. Ellsworth leaves behind a large family including two brothers, John

Calvin Jackson and Samuel Bruce Cameron Jackson, his children: David, Rob, Betsy, and Peter Jackson,

and Bill Edgar. Grandchildren: Jesse, Jeremiah, Lucas, Rhys, Reeve, Claire, Emma, Iain, Carys, great

grand-daughter, Elizabeth Mary, a son-in-law, two daughters-in-law, and many nephews, nieces,

cousins,and friends.

A Celebration Of Life will be held on Saturday November 21, 2015 at 2:00PM at

Presbyterian Church of the Mountain Delaware Water Gap, PA 18327.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Ellsworth’s name to Running Strong For Indian Youth,

www.indianstrong.org

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Lanterman & Allen Funeral Home, 27 Washington Street, East Stroudsburg, Pa 18301