Ellen Fine

In her astonishing life, Dr. Ellen Sydney Fine shared an Academic Conference dais with Elie Wiesel, and dined with James Baldwin. Her pursuit of intellectual curiosity and writing brought her back-and-forth between her New York and Paris residences. She summered in Rhode Island with her beloved sister Jill Fine Mainelli. She sang French songs to her nephews Benjamin and Jono on the beach, then retired to her cabin to Write and Wrestle with the great ideas of Humanity, Survival, Holocaust Studies, and French poetry while shaping the lives of her devoted students.

Dr. Ellen Fine was the daughter of Dr. Benjamin Fine and Professor Lillian Fine of New York. Benjamin Fine was the Pulitzer-Prize winning Education Editor of “The New York Times” who bravely reported on the integration of “Little Rock High School” in Arkansas in 1957.

We know he was compelled to monitor the harrowing scene of a young girl being tortured at a bus stop. He thought of his own daughters of the same age and placed his frame between the mob and Ms. Eckford (that is him with bowtie and notepad in the famous picture).

Ellen Fine was a proud and active alumna of Smith College. She began as a brilliant girl at Southside High School in Rockville Centre, hanging with another brilliant young girl at Southside who would grow up to become a noted presidential historian and friend.

Ellen proceeded to get her Master’s at Berkeley College California and her Doctorate at NYU.

She held an esteemed post as Professor of French at Kingsborough Community College at CUNY for her long career.

She was fearless, kind-hearted, and generous to noble causes of Freedom, Representation, and Cancer research for which she passionately fought. She endowed Literary and Political scholarships at Smith College and The International Miami Book Fair, honoring her mother Lillian Fine.

Ellen lost her cherished life-partner NYU Professor Edward Robinson a few years ago, but she is survived by sisters, devoted friends, and a powerful tribe of Fine cousins who have proudly worked the Fine Family Farm in Attleboro, MA. for over a century. Ellen hailed from solid stock, we daresay.

She was 86. She transitioned peacefully into eternity. In her last whispered message before her final sleep she thanked her nurses, doctors, and home aides for their toil and loyalty. We cherish dignity and gratitude to the very end.

Do find her in Paris! We are certain she will be an elegant presence near Rue des Rosiers.🌹