Harry Ellam

Harry “Bill“ Ellam, of Monroe Connecticut, died peacefully on December 3, 2015. Born September 3, 1929, Harry attended Beardsley Elementary and Harding High schools in Bridgeport. He graduated with the class of 1947. After high school, Harry served four years in the Air Force of which two and a half were in Germany. Harry worked at Baird Machine Shop, Moore Special Tool, and Avco Lycoming where he was a foreman of the Experimental Tool Room. After leaving Avco in 1975, Harry became a police officer in the town of Monroe, Connecticut. In addition to his normal police duties, Harry was a certified EMT and the training officer in charge of the Auxiliary Police. He taught a portion of the EMT class at Housatonic Community College. Harry was known as “Mr. CPR”, having taught the skill to approximately 1500 people over the course of his time with the Monroe Police Department. He worked as a police officer in Monroe until 1992 when he retired. Harry was also an accomplished singer and musician. He sang with the Bridgeport chapter of the “Barbershoppers”, and later sang with “The Mad Hatters” Danbury chapter after moving to Monroe. He also sang and played guitar in a band called “Sweet Fire” led by his friend Ronnie Bacchiocchi. Harry really enjoyed his later years living on a beautiful 69 acre farm in Monroe, where he could walk the fields and woodlands and visit nature any time. A first generation American, he is survived by his sister Dorothy Gordon of Wallingford, his nephew Douglas Gordon and his wife Linda of Wolcott, his nephew Russell Gordon and his wife Gail of Wallingford, his niece Linda Ingmanson and her husband John of Cheshire, and several great-nieces and great-nephews. A Memorial Gathering will be held Thursday, December 17th from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Spadaccino & Leo P. Gallagher & Son Community Funeral Home 315 Monroe Turnpike Monroe, CT 06468. Donations in Harry’s name may be made to the American Red Cross PO Box 37839 Boone, IA 50037-0839 (www.redcross.org) or to Simply Smiles 1771 Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880 (www.simplysmiles.org) Online condolences may be made by visiting www.spadaccinofuneralhome.com