Elbaum, Eleanor
Eleanor Elbaum passed away quietly at home on Friday morning, August 19, 2022. Ellie was born in Harbin, China to Russian parents Raisa and Zalman Dinaburg in 1932. The family moved to Japan in 1938 and spent the years of World War II in a remote mountain village. After the war she attended US military schools and ultimately Mills College and the University of Toronto to study nursing. In Toronto she met her husband Charles. They were married for 61 years until his passing in 2018.
Since the early 1960s Ellie worked as a pediatric nurse at Rhode Island Hospital and Roger Williams Hospital. She was instrumental in establishment of the Hasbro Children’s Hospital, where she was Director of Pediatric Patient Services until her retirement in 1994. She was widely known in the Providence community for her efforts to promote children’s health care and women’s rights issues. She also developed close contacts with the Emeq Hospital in Afula, Israel. After retirement she served as co-chair of the Rhode Island chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women. She had many friends of all ages and was a role model for younger women in the balancing of family and career, combined with a spirit of social responsibility and volunteerism.
Ellie is survived by three sons and their spouses, Michael and Rivka, Dan and Deborah, and David and Kimberly Cooper. Together they have eight grandchildren, Hannah, Nathan, Noah, Carly, Eliza, Ori, Shira, and Ilan.
To view the recorded service for Ms. Eleanor Elbaum, please Click Here.
The graveside service for Eleanor will be held on Sunday, August 21, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. in Lincoln Park Cemetery, 1469 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02888. A gathering of friends and family is being held at Laurelmead, 355 Blackstone Blvd, Providence, RI following the funeral service on Sunday, August 21 from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Shiva is to be held at Laurelmead; Monday 2:00 -4:00 p.m., Tuesday 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Wednesday 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. as well as at the home of Dan and Deborah in Newton, MA; Monday 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., Tuesday 2:00-4:00 p.m. and Thursday, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Hasbro Children’s Hospital, in her name.
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Shalom Memorial Chapel
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My condolences to the family.
Ellie hired me back in 1976 to work on Potter 3, one of 7 nurses starting our careers. If it wasn’t for your mother my life would not be as rich, those friendships have lasted 46 years. Ellie’s high standards can still be felt in Hasbro through the mentoring of many years of nurses. Your mom asked me to see if the nurses could raise some money for Hasbro as it was being built by selling a cookbook. I was challenged and said yes. In the end we raised enough money to pay for the stained glass window in the Hasbro chapel, a substantial donation to the Family Resource Center and a generous donation to the Children’s Fund of the nurses union. Ellie was always about pushing us further than we thought we could go.
Though I’ve retired now I can still see your mom walking onto the Picu.
May her memory be a blessing,
Maureen Oberg
My first social work job was in 1976 at Potter Bldg. I met Ellie immediately. She was a giant in the field of healthcare, the epitome of compassion, with such a keen sense of leadership and organization. She was what one calls a ‘go-to person’, especially as a young social worker learning the ropes. Her presence was an enormous support system!
My thoughts are with her family at this sad time.
My sincere condolences to Michael, Dan, and David Elbaum for the death of your mother. I was once your father’s secretary at Brown University
I was blessed to have worked with Mrs. Elbaum for many years at Potter Building and Hasbro Children’s Hospital. It was an honor to accompany her when traveling to other hospitals for children to gather ideas for the new Hasbro Children’s Hospital. My heartfelt condolences to all of her precious family members.
Ellie will surely be missed by many! She was definitely a role model for all who knew her and yes, she had friends of all ages. I knew Ellie and Charles through the Jewish Federation/then Jewish Alliance and Women’s Alliance. We worked together for many years and even though she was much older than me, I cherished her friendship. Please know that you had a remarkable mother who was loved in our community.
My deepest sympathies to you all.
Cheryl Greenfeld Teverow
Dear Michael, Dan, David and family,
May all the wonderful memories of this extraordinary woman sustain you in the days ahead. I am sure you know how she loved you all and how proud she was of all you had accomplished. While you have lost a loving Mom, the world has lost a great champion of women and children rights.
I was honored to work with your Mother at Rhode Island Hospital
for many years, 1984 until her retirement. I was witness to all she gave to educating nurses and doctors, advocating for children’s health worldwide, the building of Hasbro Children’s Hospital, advancing pediatric nursing, and all her philanthropic endeavors through the Jewish Alliance.
Ellie was very special! No one worked harder to secure resources for the children in our community. Her work may be done but those of us who worked with her know that the world is a better place because of all she gave.
May her beautiful memory be everlasting and a blessing.
I was one of so many of Ellie’s understudies. She was a wonderful teacher and inspiring leader. I consider it a privilege that I had the opportunity to know her and learn from her. She left quite a legacy at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. A wonderful woman.
Rest in Peace Ellie
May you experience peace and good memories for a life well-lived.
Warmly, Tery