The Passing of Ellen M. Stevahn

6/3/2015

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of one of Rodgers Ranch founding members, Ellen M. Stevahn, this past weekend. Ellen was 94 and spent the last 30 years of her life devoted to the restoration of the Rodgers Ranch Historical Site. She and a few other members of the Pleasant Hill Historical Society saw the need to save this important part of local history, and they organized the Friends of Rodgers Ranch (F.O.R.R.) Committee in 1989 for this purpose.

After working diligently to have the site listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Ellen became the first president of F.O.R.R., establishing it as it’s own nonprofit organization on June 18,1991. She was a fixture on the board and always ready to help out at all events -- as a Round Up docent, decorator for our 4th of July float, porch sweeper at the farmhouse, and most of all, as the Ranch’s biggest ambassador. Three years ago, she enthusiastically embraced amending our name to the Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center and undertaking a new direction.

Unfortunately, Ellen's health took a turn for the worse over the last two years, forcing her to leave the board and become a notable honorary director. She was an inspiration, a friend, and a mentor, and she will be dearly missed. If you have any special memories of Ellen, please post them here.

Her Celebration of Life service will be July 8 at 7:00pm (reception following), St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 3051 Putnam Blvd, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. Private burial. Memorials preferred to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church; Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center, P.O. Box 23381, Pleasant Hill, CA, 94523; or youth/education program of choice. (hullschapel.com)

The RRHC Board

33 Comments

Joseph Palmer

6/3/2015 05:59:27 am

Ellen was a very special and amazing woman. She reminded me very much of my grandmother, someone who was both physically small yet extremely large in stature. They both were kind, gentle, loving woman with great smiles, a soft voice, a wry smile and a great laugh.

You would be mistaken however to mistake there generous spirits for weakness. They both had a passion for the underdog and seeing their interests and projects fulfilled. When Ellen had her first bout of strokes, I found out that she had been a nurse stationed in the Philippines during WWII and championed caring for the local population not just our men and woman in uniform. She also championed tirelessly for the preservation and restoration of Rodgers Ranch and did not take no for an answer.

My first memory of Ellen was prior to my involvement at the Ranch. I was already an ambassador of the PH Chamber when she also joined our group representing F.O.R.R. Like my grandmother and myself she was a hugger. So after that first ambassadors meeting had adjourned, I went up to Ellen to introduce myself. We at first shook hands, but then she said she was a hugger and if I minded. Of course I didn’t and from then on (whenever we ran into each other) it was always a hug first, conversation later.

Well this was becoming such a regular occurrence that she cracked, “If we keep this up, people will start talking and think you’re my boyfriend.” She then gave me a wry smile and giggled. Well that was it, from then on whenever I ran into her I would always say “There you are, how’s my girlfriend doing.” To which she always cracked that great smile of hers and giggled softly.

I will miss her very much as I do my grandmother, but I am also grateful that neither of them are no longer suffering and in a better place. Ellen had a long and fulfilled life and I can only hope to make half of the impact that she has made in the world.

We love and miss you Ellen,

Your boyfriend,

Joseph

Jim Nunes

6/3/2015 06:05:23 am

Sad news! Ellen was a special lady!

Evangeline Jordan

6/3/2015 06:09:32 am

So sorry to hear of her passing. Thank you for the information.

With Sympathy for her family,

The Jordans

Linda K. Mayo

6/3/2015 06:11:24 am

Hi Denise,
I am sorry for the loss of RR strongest advocate and your dear friend.
With deepest sympathy,
Linda Mayo

Kathleen M. Noonan

6/3/2015 06:13:35 am

Dear Denise,

Thanks you for letting me know this very sad news. If you do hear anything about a service, please let me know. Maybe some of us could gather at the Ranch for some reminiscences.

Ron & Jay-Marie Garcia

6/3/2015 06:15:14 am

Hello Denise,
Jay-Marie and I are saddened by this news, Ellen was the first person at the Ranch that we got to know and our children also as docents really like her.
Please give our regards to the family, and if a service is planned please let us know.

Debbie Turner

6/3/2015 06:16:59 am

Ah, so sad, but what a wonderful life of service! Is this the same lady who had the teddy bears? I sure love the ones I bought.

6/3/2015 06:20:08 am

We're glad you like the bears and no they were not Ellen's. They were from a collection owned by Sarah Young another founding member of F.O.R.R. along with Ellen. She did however help with our teddy bear sale.

Jim and Laura Lawrence

6/3/2015 06:22:21 am

Hi Denise,

Thanks for letting us know.
Ellen was an Ambassador for the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce for a number of years. She always had such great enthusiasm and put an illuminating light on Rodgers Ranch and all of its activities. She was a terrific Ambassador and I thoroughly enjoyed working with her and being part of the Ambassador Team.

Laura Lawrence

linda walls

6/3/2015 06:24:13 am

Dear Rodgers ranch
I didn't know Ellen but thank you for telling me about her self &her work. I'm sorry for the loss to the ranch with her passing. I signed up for e-mails when my mom was at Turrin House in Pleasant hill but she passed in 2010. Am not active there but like receiving news. Thanks.

Donice Jansen-Smith

6/3/2015 06:25:24 am

My condolences to her family and friends...and her Rogers Ranch Family. I believe she has left her spirit in all she touched and those she worked with. Donice

Gerson, Susan

6/3/2015 06:27:08 am

Thanks for letting us know.
Susan

Thora Harshman

6/3/2015 06:28:42 am

Thank You Denise!
Ellen truly was an inspiration. She genuinely cared about relaying the history of the Ranch and the rest of Pleasant Hill as well. I hope we have recordings of some of her stories , as listening to history as told by someone who experienced it is better by far than looking it up on a website.
I hope something special will be done at the Ranch in her honor.
Sadly
Regards
Thora

Martin Nelis

6/3/2015 06:30:01 am

Denise, I am very sorry to hear this news. Ellen was one of the first people to greet me when I started working at City Hall. At that time, she was still volunteering as a dispatcher in the Senior Van Service program. She was a warm, friendly, soft spoken person who made me feel very welcome to Pleasant Hill, so much so, that she gave me one of those beautiful throws reflecting the history of Pleasant Hill. Although I did not see her that often these past five years, I will always remember her fondly as a kind and gentle person who loved our community like no other.

Martin Nelis

Alex Brendel

6/3/2015 06:31:23 am

Denise,

My Condolences and Best wishes to you;

We must carry on; Ellen's work is Our work.

--Alex Brendel

Cindy Rubin

6/3/2015 06:32:34 am

Hi Denise and RRHC Board- The Rubin family is so very sad to hear about Ellen's passing. We all adored her. My kids were campers and docents at RR since they were in elementary school and are now in their 20's. Ellen was a fixture at RRHC and so they got to interact with her quite a bit. I asked them what they remember most about her and they said they remember her stories and her great sense of humor.

We used to see Ellen sometimes on her evening walks when she would cut through our neighborhood. One of those times, Everett was playing wiffleball on the court with some boys when Ellen walked by. They ended up talking for about 20 minutes. Later on, a neighbor said they saw Everett talking to an older woman and asked me if the person was a family member. I didn't see this happen but asked why they were asking. They said they were surprised to see a (then) teenage boy speak for so long to an older person and look like they were enjoying the conversation. When I told Everett, he just simply said, "Mom, it was Ellen". That's all he needed to say. She transcended age.

She was a great lady and an very important member of the RRHC and Pleasant Hill Community. She had a smile that won't be forgotten.

Please let us know if and when there are services for her and let her family know that we are very sorry for their loss. She will be greatly missed.
Warmly,
~Cindy, Jeff, Lexie and Everett Rubin

Julie Gianti

6/3/2015 06:33:40 am

A huge thank you to Ellen for her tireless devotion to our community and to saving the Ranch. She was a character that I'll never forget.
RIP

Marian Woodard link

6/3/2015 08:15:11 am

Ellen was proof of the saying, "Good things come in small packages." Like Joseph and Laura, I met Ellen through the PH Chamber Ambassadors program. Ellen had a spirit about her that you could feel even before you got one of those famous Ellen hugs. Feisty in the best way, zesty even. Spunky. She loved the Ranch, she loved life, she loved those lucky enough to share her path. It was a privilege to know her. She leaves a positive legacy in our fair town, and of course, at the Ranch.

Genene Welch

6/3/2015 10:11:39 am

Ellen always reminded me of George Bailey from the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life"; someone who touched everyone's life she came in contact with. I can think of countless ways she enriched my life, my family's life, Rodgers Ranch, and the entire Pleasant Hill community. And a good friend just reminded me that had it not been for Ellen, we would have never met. One of my favorite memories is of Ellen planting a tree in honor of the birth of my son, Tommy, a direct descendant of Patrick & Mary Rodgers. Yesterday, upon seeing me with tears in my eyes while reading the news of Ellen's passing, Tommy came up and hugged me, firmly stating, "we will never forget her". On behalf our family and all the Rodgers descendants, thank you Ellen - we will never forget you.

Mallory Kujanek

6/3/2015 12:31:39 pm

This lady has truly inspired me through the years! Such resilience, strength, and compassion. Ellen - thank you for your comedic genius and energetic presence, your advice, and your many entertaining stories. I will miss our conversations. Rest in peace.

Denise Koroslev

6/3/2015 02:21:44 pm

When I first met Ellen about 20 years ago, she was an inspiration. Taking on the restoration of an historic site was a big job, but she pushed us all to do more than we ever thought we could do. Meanwhile she cracked jokes and showed us the importance of laughing. Whatever was going on at the ranch, she would come up and check it out and see if she could help.
As the years went on, she became a dear friend, sharing life experiences, good times and bad. Her family became mine and she always enjoyed getting a bottle of champagne for each special occasion. Nothing bothered her more than not being able to help out at the ranch or participate in Round Up. When her health kept her from actively doing things at the ranch, she would just come up, sit and talk and boy, was she a good talker. I was always amazed at how I could ask a simple question and she would not only answer it, but work in anecdotal stories to enhance it.
In the last several years she has been more like a Mom to me. When visiting her, she always wanted to know all the news about the ranch, the board members, my family and anything else going on in the city. When Steve would visit her at the convalescent home while I was there, I saw first hand the closeness they had and heard stories about their early days of marriage and their children, Laurie and Mike. To the end, she always remained a lady.
Ellen, your passing is a hole in my heart, but a light in my path
Bless you

David & Adrianne Roe

6/5/2015 06:14:20 am

Thanks Denise for letting everyone know about Ellen.

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Ellen is adorable! Her permanent smile could melt anyone's heart. For such a little lady, she was a mover and a shaker.

Dave and I remember driving her in the parade. She was Citizen of the Year in 2004-2005. She came to help decorate our convertible the night before. In her younger days she was in the Red Cross and wore remnants of her uniform...sash and hat.

I remember going to her 90th Birthday Party at Zio Fraedos. It was fun seeing photos of her in a different era. She loved talking of her daughter. She was amazed that her husband would still go to work with their son who always helped out.

We will definitively miss Ellen. She was a big part of restoring Pleasant Hill's history, especially Rodger's Ranch. She was a part of Pleasant Hill History.

Warm Regards,
Adrianne Roe

Ted Fuller

6/16/2015 09:21:36 am

Can't recall specific projects, but I remember Ellen as a
hard-working, dedicated individual with a warm, friendly
sense of humor.

Ted Fuller

Suzanne Angeli

6/16/2015 10:25:40 am

Ellen was the greatest. I think of her every time I look at my Betty Boop Cookie jar she so graciously gave to me. And, who can forget the night we drank Jello Shooters along with Steve at Casino Night. She will be missed.

Norma and Don Flaskerud

6/16/2015 11:28:25 am

When we started attending the Citizen of the Year awards ceremonies we became aware of Ellen and all she had done and continued to do for the City and for Rodgers Ranch; like everyone else we found her to be delightful and so, so giving and so dedicated! I am proud to have known her and will miss her. But she left such a lovely legacy here in Pleasant Hill! I hope the Ranch keeps a special display about her, for without her vision and hard work it would not be here today!

6/17/2015 06:04:05 am

Agreed!

Lynn Spatz

6/16/2015 11:37:26 am

Ellen was a wonderful person - I admired her for all the wonderful things she did for the community. I will always remember how she made you feel good when you ran into her around town and started talking to her. What a positive energetic person.
Heartfelt thanks to Ellen for preserving Rodgers Ranch - such a special place that ties us all to our history and teaches our children about the past. She will be missed.

Jack Weir

6/17/2015 12:10:23 am

What a deeply felt personal loss to those who were privileged to know her, and indeed to all of Pleasant Hill. Ellen was the enthusiastic "greeter" at the Seventh Day Adventist polling place where Mauna and I served for a number of elections. During lulls in the voting she encouraged us to share her interest in Rodgers Ranch, and she frequently called me over the years to chat about community issues. Like so many who grew up during the Great Depression, Ellen looked for the humor in everyday challenges, and our running joke was that we would someday "sneak out to go dancin," Big Band style. So, today I'm going to download some Glen Miller swing music and remember her smile.
I hope as a community we can find a fitting way to memorialize her life and contributions.

6/17/2015 06:03:08 am

We are commissioning a memorial bench that will feature a plaque dedicated to her. It will be placed on top of the hill, replacing the one there that will naturally overlook the entire site.

Both Judie and I remember her at the polling place as well. You would be hard pressed to find a warmer more enthusiastic greeter. :)

Gae Mora

6/17/2015 01:43:19 am

I met Ellen when she contacted me probably I the early days of researching the ranch. I had lived there from 1955 to 1960. My step-father was the caretaker.( My wedding reception in June, 1960 was on the grass under the oak trees.) Ellen asked me many pertinent questions about the ranch. I gave her some pictures. Ellen was very nice and adept at getting information. She knew what she wanted and went for it. I understand she was instrumental in getting the ranch on the National Registry. It will be especially great when the barn is rebuilt. I didn't know, or remember, that it was a wheat barn. We seldom went into that center, high-ceiling, area. Every time I went down the street Ellen lived on I would think of her. So sorry to hear of her passing.If there is a gathering at the ranch in her honor, please let me know. Also if there are services.
My sympathy and prayers go to all of you, and the family.

Gae Mora

6/17/2015 05:59:58 am

Thank you Gae for you great comments, the services for Ellen are listed below. As for the Ranch, we are commissioning a memorial bench that will feature a plaque dedicated to her. It will be placed on top of the hill, replacing the one there that will naturally overlook the entire site.

Celebration of Life service will be July 8 at 7:00pm (reception following), St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 3051 Putnam Blvd, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. Private burial. Memorials preferred to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church; Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center, P.O. Box 23381, Pleasant Hill, CA, 94523; or youth/education program of choice. (hullschapel.com)

Dodie Jones

6/26/2015 06:41:07 am

When I think of Ellen, I think of this pert little lady with sparkling eyes, filled with energy and determination, ready to take a "stand" for her dream to keep Rodgers Ranch alive. Her passion started the process and ongoing plans were in place ... just what she wanted!
I can remember her so well ... so many times ... sitting at the table with the Pleasant Hill Board of Directors, fighting for Rodgers Ranch, justifying the actions that needed to be taken with all the facts, figures, and details to be discussed; so many times!
Ellen Stevhan has indeed left her mark. Those who knew her and I, for one, will remember her dearly.

Thank you for letting me know,
Dodie Jones

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