Br. Patrick Ellis (

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

, November 17, 1928 – Lincroft, February 21, 2013) was an American member of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, also known as the ''De La Salle Christian Brothers''. He was the 13th president of

The Catholic University of America The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Roman Catholic research university in Washington, D.C. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by U.S. ...

(CUA) in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, from 1992 to 1998 and President of La Salle University in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

, from 1977 to 1992.

Early life

He was born Harry James Ellis Jr. in

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

, and entered the novitiate of the

brothers A brother is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to non-familia ...

in 1945, being given the religious name of Felician Patrick. He graduated in 1946 from

Calvert Hall College High School Calvert Hall College High School (also known as "Calvert Hall" or "CHC") is a Catholic college preparatory high school for boys, located in Towson, Maryland, United States. The school's mission is to make its students "men of intellect, men of ...

and joined the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He then attended

the Catholic University of America The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Roman Catholic research university in Washington, D.C. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by U.S. ...

, where he was granted a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

in literature in 1951. Following his graduation, he was sent on his first teaching assignment at

West Philadelphia Catholic High School West Catholic Preparatory High School is a co-educational Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at 45th and Chestnut Streets, the University City neighborhood of West Philadelphia. ...

for nine years.

Educational career

In 1960, Ellis joined the faculty at La Salle College in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

as a member of the English Department. He was sent to serve as the principal of La Salle-Immaculata High School in

Miami Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a coastal metropolis and the county seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida, United States. With a population of 442,241 at ...

, which focused on educating the children of refugees from post-revolutionary Cuba until 1964, when he returned to La Salle, where he was named president in 1977. During his tenure as La Salle president, Ellis doubled the size of the campus and oversaw the building of new residence halls and a new modernized library. While president he continued to teach English literature courses as he had during his 30 years as a professor at La Salle. In 1992 he was offered the position of President of The Catholic University of America. He served in this office until 1998. The Catholic University of America has named the Brother Patrick Ellis Chair in Education in his honor.

Last years

Following his departure from the presidency, Ellis spent five years working in fundraising for his

Province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

. He then retired to their nursing home in

Lincroft, New Jersey Lincroft is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) within Middletown Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States.

, from

acute leukemia Acute leukemia or acute leukaemia is a family of serious medical conditions relating to an original diagnosis of leukemia. In most cases, these can be classified according to the lineage, myeloid or lymphoid, of the malignant cells that grow unco ...

. He was buried at the Brothers' cemetery near

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

References

External links

Biography at cua.edu
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, Patrick 1928 births 2013 deaths People from Baltimore De La Salle Brothers Roman Catholic religious brothers Catholic University of America alumni Presidents of La Salle University Presidents of the Catholic University of America Deaths from acute leukemia Burials in Maryland