Eleanor Little Roberts

Born February 13, 1928 in Pittsburgh, PA, to Arthur and Harriet Little, Ellie graduated from Oldfields School in 1945 and Vassar College in 1949.

A longtime educator and administrator, after graduating from Vassar, Ellie moved to Washington in 1950 where she taught kindergarten at The Potomac School from 1950 to 1952, first and second grade at the Holton-Arms School from 1952 to 1956, and then served as Director of Holton-Arms Junior School from 1956 to 1959.

When Ellie moved to Washington, she lived in Georgetown where she met her first husband, Charles Francis Lombard, her next-door neighbor. They were wed in 1959, had two children, Laura and John Lombard, and were divorced in 1979.

After raising two children, Ellie received a Master’s degree in Education from American University in 1983. She then served as Head of the Business Office at The Lab School of Washington, DC, from 1982 to 1985, and their Coordinator for Special Services from 1985 to 1990. Ellie also worked as a real estate agent for Begg, Long & Foster from 1991 to 1993.

Ellie adored the visual and performing arts, particularly music. She was a piano player for St. Alban’s Church Sunday Evening Services at the Washington Home from 1980 to 1993. Ellie met her second husband, Thomas Roberts, through an informal music group. They were wed in 1996. Together they shared a passion for music and were supporters of the Vocal Arts Society of Washington and the Garth Newel Music Center in Hot Springs Virginia. Ellie’s second husband died in 2012.

Dedicated to serving others, Ellie volunteered as a reading tutor over many decades at the Junior Village, Second Genesis, and St. Alban’s Program at Garrison School. While living at Ingleside, Ellie served as Head of the Communication Committee from 2014 to 2021 and oversaw the monthly Wednesday music recitals in collaboration with the Washington Conservatory of Music.

An avid swimmer, walker, and bridge player, Ellie spent summers during her youth at Camp Ken-Jockette in South Strafford, Vermont, and loved returning to Vermont with her family to swim in lakes in the summer and hike along logging roads during leaf season. Ellie had a summer home in Blue Ridge Summit, PA, and felt a warm kinship with a close community of friends.

An indefatigable organizer, Ellie loved bringing people together for fellowship and fun to savor the great outdoors. Founder and Director of the Washington Sail & Ski Club in 1974, she organized many family and student ski trips.

Beloved by family and friends who will miss her dearly, Ellie will be lovingly remembered by her brother, James Little and his partner, Nancy Nolte; daughter Laura Lombard and her partner, Donald Davis; son John Lombard and his wife, Lilly Lombard; granddaughter, Madeleine Lombard and her husband, Finn Conrad, and grandson, Luke Lombard; three step-daughters: André Koester; Elizabeth Dalgard; and Elinor Kotchen; and her dear friend, Donald Kent.

A service in celebration of Ellie Roberts’ life will be held at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 3001 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC, on Saturday, April 1 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to So Others May Eat (SOME).