Ellen M. Tinsman
Ellen M. Tinsman, 61, of 1616 Trimble Road, Trout Run, died Monday, Jan 19, 2009 at the Gatehouse Hospice, Williamsport.
She was born February 14, 1947 in Rose Valley, the daughter of the late William H. and Mary (O’Connor) Tinsman. Surviving her are her aunt Bernice O’Connor, and cousins Maggie Quinn Ramsey, Mary Quinn, Kate Ramsey Sivers, Sarah Ramsey, Marcie McCormick Porter, and Andrew McCormick.
She attended the Grier School for Girls in Tyrone, PA, and Barnard College in New York City.
She led an adventurous and varied life in New York and on her travels throughout the U.S. and Europe, but always returned to Williamsport and her beloved family home in Rose Valley, where she lived with her dogs, cats and chickens.
She was talented at many things and her work life reflected her eclectic interests. In the early 70s, she co-edited the Williamsport Mountain Journal, a bi-weekly alternative newspaper. She traveled with the Clyde Beatty Circus, and helped establish the Big Apple Circus and Xenon Disco in New York City. Later, in Williamsport she worked at the Rieders Travis law firm, and was a freelance editor for a number of writers, both local and long distance. For the last several years, she was a Democratic Committeeperson in Lycoming County and sat on the Gamble Township Planning Committee. Under the name of Joan Beach, she regularly contributed to the internet-based community discussion group Billtown Boards, and maintained a blog on national political issues. She was very involved in the campaigns to elect Congressman Chris Carney and President Barack Obama.
She will be dearly missed by all her friends and family.
Cremation arrangements will be handled privately by Grenoble Funeral Home, Muncy. Friends and acquaintances are invited to a gathering to celebrate Ellen’s life on Thursday, January 22, 2009 from 6 to 9 p.m. at DiSalvo’s Restaurant, 341 E. Fourth St., Williamsport.