David Ellerbe, a Brown Dining Services staff member of 18 years, died Feb. 8. Ellerbe, a food service worker, was 57. President Christina Paxson P’19 notified the Brown community of Ellerbe’s death in an email yesterday.
Ellerbe began working full-time at Brown in 1996, spending most of his time in the dish room of the Sharpe Refectory, Paxson wrote. His colleagues described him as reserved, but funny, and a fan of gospel music, she wrote.
According to an online obituary, Ellerbe was born in Rochelle, New York, later serving in the U.S. Army from 1976 to 1979.
Comments on the obituary, both from colleagues and a student, portrayed Ellerbe as kind, friendly and upstanding.
Ann Hoffman, director of administration for BDS, wrote in an email to The Herald that Ellerbe’s colleagues remember him as highly committed to his work, coming in on off-days if the department needed him. Ellerbe told colleagues he was “honored” to be a BDS employee, the email read.
Hoffman wrote that colleagues also described Ellerbe as quiet and industrious, but quick to infuse humor into the workday.
A funeral was held Feb. 17 at Bell Funeral Home in Providence.
