Ella Kauffman

Ella Jane Smith Kauffman, 80, of South Haven, Michigan and also Piscataway, New Jersey, peacefully left this world on May 4, 2014 in the arms of her beloved husband and of her dearest friend from her nursing school days in Baltimore.   Ella was made comfortable in her final weeks in her South Haven living room with her majestic view of Lake Michigan and had the opportunity to say “until we meet again” to family and friends.

Ella was born on September 28, 1933 in Salisbury, Maryland and grew up with her four sisters on the rural Eastern Shore. She moved to Tawnytown, MD in 1953 to help her sister, Louise, after the death of Louise’s husband.  Two years later Ella began her nursing career training at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore.  She managed a local county health center in Dundock near Baltimore.

While there she met her husband and soul mate, Fred, who was serving in the US Army at Edgewood Chemical Center.  They married in 1961 and began their life-long partnership in raising a family and in mutual support of careers in science and medicine.

With the birth of their children, Elizabeth and Andrew, Ella took a break from her career.  She later went back to school to refresh her skills; first at Notre Dame College for a Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 1983 and then on to a Masters Degree in Administrative Science from Johns Hopkins University in 1989.  All while working full-time for the Visiting Nurse Association in Baltimore. 

The family moved to Piscataway, New Jersey when Fred was named Distinguished Professor of  Pharmacology and Toxicology at Rutgers University.  Ella continued her nursing career there, mostly in service of the Visiting Nurse Association of Central New Jersey until her retirement in 1995 for health reasons due to complications from heart disease.  She remained active however in cultural, academic and civic activities throughout her life, including in the aftermath of a major stroke she suffered in 2002.

Ella and Fred loved to travel. They lived 14 months in Dundee, Scotland (over a three-year period) where Fred completed his sabbatical at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School.  They attended various international meetings around the world.  Ella visited Fred during his 3-month appointment as  visiting professor at the medical school in Sau Paulo, Brazil.  

She was preceded in death by two infant brothers, Charles and George, her oldest sister, Louise and her parents.   Ella is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Fred; her daughter, Elizabeth (Rob) Kauffman Liroff and son, Andrew (Ashley) Kauffman; sisters Ruth, Ann and Sarah all of Maryland; sisters-in-law Joanne Kauffman of Fox Amphoux, France and Carole Kauffman Blum of Annapolis, MD; granddaughters Erin and Sarah and grandson Ashton; loving nieces and nephews and many good friends.  We all will miss her example of grace, resilience and joie de vivre. .

A memorial services will be scheduled at a later date. Contributions may be made in Ella’s name to Notre Dame Maryland University, School of Nursing, 4701 Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21212 or to South Haven Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, MI 49085