Green, Dr. Ellen Zinsser died on Aug. 15, 2023 at the age of 98. Ellen was born in New York City and raised in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. and Bryn Mawr, PA. She graduated from the Shipley School, Vassar College and received her M.D. From Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. She completed her internship at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. Ellen came to the twin cities in 1950 and spent most of the rest of her life in Minneapolis and at Madeline Island, Wisconsin. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Isabella Zinsser, her first husband Dr. Wm. R. Fifer and her husband Dr. Robert A. (Bud) Green. She earned a Master of Public Health at the University of Minnesota and worked at the student Health Service. Ellen was a member of AOA medical honor society and Delta Omega public health honor society. She became the Public Health Officer of St. Louis Park, Richfield and Bloomington. In 1966, she was appointed Director of Health Planning at the State Planning Agency and later became Assistant Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health. She served on a number of boards and commissions, including the Minnesota Public Health Association, the Executive board of the American Public Health Association and the Council on Education for Public Health. She served 20 years on the board of directors of the Bush Foundation and 15 years on the board of trustees of Northland College in Ashland, WI as well as a term on the board of the Vassar Alumni Association. Ellen is survived by her four adult children, Judith Fifer, Savannah GA; Alison Stonecipher, Santa Barbara CA; Penman Louis, Philadelphia, PA; William E. Fifer (Lori), Hudson WI and eight grandchildren: Will and John Stonecipher, Kate and Julie Louis, Will, Elliott, Alex and Sarah Fifer. She is also survived by her step-children, Gail (Grant), Laurel and John Green; three step-grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Ellen and Bud lived in Sun Valley, Idaho for five years and were active in the Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Humanities. They developed and ran the Sun Valley Music Festival. After returning to Minnesota, she volunteered in the Minneapolis Public Schools and spent much time with her children and grandchildren. She loved tennis, travel, opera and her dogs Dooly and Valentine. Ellen was a kind, intelligent person beloved by all. Please send memorials to the Ellen Z. Green Scholarship Fund at Northland College, Ashland, WI, 54806.

Published on August 20, 2023