Ellen Ambrose-Laurent

Born in Princeton, New Jersey, to Warren Ambrose, a mathematician, and Lee Ambrose (née Galant), an editor and writer, Ellen spent portions of her early life in Paris, France, Brookline, Massachusetts, and Geneva, Switzerland, where she graduated from the École Internationale de Genève. Her international upbringing fostered a lifelong curiosity about the world and fluency in French.

Ellen pursued a career in defense contracting while earning undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Maryland. She traveled extensively throughout Europe, including visits to her mother’s cottage in Wimbledon in south London.

Her interests were wide-ranging and deeply felt. She loved tennis, literature, music, ballet, the visual arts, history in all its facets, cooking and the culinary arts, and, always, cats. She cherished many feline companions throughout her life, including her beloved Callie for the last thirteen years.

Ellen is survived by her devoted husband of 51 years, Keith, and her children, Adam (and husband James "Jamie") and Jennifer (and husband William "Bill"); her grandchildren, Amber, Amanda, Nicholas, and Eden; her nieces, Heidi (and husband Fin), Lauren (and husband Nick), and Heather; and her nephews, Ari (and wife Laura) and Matthew. She is also survived by her younger brother, Adam (and wife Jane).

She was preceded in death by her son, David, who passed away earlier this year.

Uniquely individual and remarkably insightful, Ellen embraced all that life and the world had to offer. Well-educated and well-traveled, she possessed a keen sense of possibility, always seeking to expand her horizons. Above all, she had a loving generosity of spirit and was instinctively ready to listen to and help anyone who needed it.

Ellen will be remembered for her intelligence and curiosity, her openness to the world, her many passions, and especially the love and concern she shared so freely with others.

A memorial Celebration of Life for Ellen will be held at 1:30 pm on August 22, 2026 at the Garden Chapel at the University of Maryland, 7744 Regents Drive, College Park, MD 20742. A reception follows at Victoria Falls clubhouse Great Room, 13701 Belle Chasse Blvd, Laurel, MD 20707.

In lieu of flowers, Ellen’s family asks that those wishing to honor her memory make a donation in her name to the American Cancer Society.