Obituary for Robert Ely
Robert “Bob” Coleman Ely, 89, passed away at his home in Durham, New Hampshire on March 3, 2022. He was surrounded by members of his family.
Bob was born and raised in Connecticut and New York to Robert Scheffer and Ruth Coleman Ely and an extended family of teachers. He attended Yale College, and spent two years in the Army and three years at Harvard Law School. He moved to Anchorage, Alaska in 1959, the first year of statehood, working as a clerk for the last of the territorial judges, J. L. McCarrey Jr., who had become the sole judge for the new state of Alaska. All legal matters came before McCarrey and his clerk, a heady time for a young person just out of law school. Bob then worked for Judge Walter Hodge assisting in the transition of the territorial court system into a state and federal system.
In 1961, Bob and two other young lawyers, Gene Guess and Joe Rudd, formed the Ely, Guess and Rudd law firm in Anchorage, which later became a leading firm in the state through its work on the Trans-Alaska pipeline project.
Bob was a long-time board member of the Anchorage Museum Association through three expansions. He served many years on the board of the Alyeska Ski Club, and enjoyed ski racing with his wife and children.
During his more than 50 years in Alaska, Bob experienced the growth of the new state. He loved hiking with his family in the Chugach Mountains and traveling throughout the state, from Barrow and Nome to Cold Bay and Petersburg. He was a great student of American and Alaskan history, and knew many of the men and women whose work and lives shaped the new state.
In 2005, Bob and his wife Heidi purchased an old farmhouse in Durham, New Hampshire and in 2013 moved permanently to be closer to their children and grandchildren. He loved and appreciated Great Bay, the White Mountains, and fresh peaches. He was a founding board member of Bedrock Gardens and was on the board of the Active Retirement Association in Durham. He will be remembered for the passions he shared with his family and friends: his love of books, conversation, art and the outdoors.
Ely is survived by Heidi, his wife of 55 years, his son Scheffer Ely of Emeryville, CA, daughter Malin Clyde of Durham, NH, son Winston Ely of Brooklyn, NY, brother Peter Ely, of Elgin Il, and his four grandchildren Abby Clyde, Taylor Clyde, Keira Ely and Emory Ely. A fifth beloved granddaughter, Clara Ely, passed away in 2018. He was pre-deceased by a brother, John Prudden Ely of New York City.
A gathering for friends and family to celebrate Bob’s life is being planned. For those wishing to honor his memory, Bob suggested donations to Bedrock Gardens in Lee, New Hampshire, a community oasis of art, horticulture and inspiration: https://www.bedrockgardens.org/donate.html
Bob was born and raised in Connecticut and New York to Robert Scheffer and Ruth Coleman Ely and an extended family of teachers. He attended Yale College, and spent two years in the Army and three years at Harvard Law School. He moved to Anchorage, Alaska in 1959, the first year of statehood, working as a clerk for the last of the territorial judges, J. L. McCarrey Jr., who had become the sole judge for the new state of Alaska. All legal matters came before McCarrey and his clerk, a heady time for a young person just out of law school. Bob then worked for Judge Walter Hodge assisting in the transition of the territorial court system into a state and federal system.
In 1961, Bob and two other young lawyers, Gene Guess and Joe Rudd, formed the Ely, Guess and Rudd law firm in Anchorage, which later became a leading firm in the state through its work on the Trans-Alaska pipeline project.
Bob was a long-time board member of the Anchorage Museum Association through three expansions. He served many years on the board of the Alyeska Ski Club, and enjoyed ski racing with his wife and children.
During his more than 50 years in Alaska, Bob experienced the growth of the new state. He loved hiking with his family in the Chugach Mountains and traveling throughout the state, from Barrow and Nome to Cold Bay and Petersburg. He was a great student of American and Alaskan history, and knew many of the men and women whose work and lives shaped the new state.
In 2005, Bob and his wife Heidi purchased an old farmhouse in Durham, New Hampshire and in 2013 moved permanently to be closer to their children and grandchildren. He loved and appreciated Great Bay, the White Mountains, and fresh peaches. He was a founding board member of Bedrock Gardens and was on the board of the Active Retirement Association in Durham. He will be remembered for the passions he shared with his family and friends: his love of books, conversation, art and the outdoors.
Ely is survived by Heidi, his wife of 55 years, his son Scheffer Ely of Emeryville, CA, daughter Malin Clyde of Durham, NH, son Winston Ely of Brooklyn, NY, brother Peter Ely, of Elgin Il, and his four grandchildren Abby Clyde, Taylor Clyde, Keira Ely and Emory Ely. A fifth beloved granddaughter, Clara Ely, passed away in 2018. He was pre-deceased by a brother, John Prudden Ely of New York City.
A gathering for friends and family to celebrate Bob’s life is being planned. For those wishing to honor his memory, Bob suggested donations to Bedrock Gardens in Lee, New Hampshire, a community oasis of art, horticulture and inspiration: https://www.bedrockgardens.org/donate.html