The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsDU member elleng has passed. Edited
Last edited Sun Dec 14, 2025, 07:53 AM - Edit history (2)
Update: I have replaced the link--which was in my original post very early this morning--with a screen shot because some people indicated the link didn't work for them.
She has been a member here since 2004. No details. Her daughter has posted it on her Facebook account.

And her other daughter has just now posted this photo of her when she was younger

May her memory be a blessing.
LearnedHand
(5,242 posts)Its almost not possible. She was just posting yesterday or the day before!
dalton99a
(92,179 posts)Fla Dem
(27,428 posts)My sympathies go out to her family, she was truly a good person, may she rest in peace.
Tactical Peek
(1,405 posts)
mahatmakanejeeves
(68,280 posts)sprinkleeninow
(22,111 posts)montanacowboy
(6,680 posts)I loved her photos of the birds. My God, what happened?
jfz9580m
(16,584 posts)I knew I have seen her posts a bunch. I interacted with her only once..something to do with the plural of mongoose
She posted about atheists once in the Jewish Forum.
She used to post pics of geese and other birds..she must not have been well. Very sad. I dont have FB so I couldnt see it.
She seemed like a sweet person.
ZZenith
(4,452 posts)She was always helpful and friendly.
Godspeed, elleng.
Exp
(770 posts)blm
(114,431 posts)For us long timers, she was a daily voice
..a dependable pal.
💐🕯️💐
jfz9580m
(16,584 posts)She posted just last week..
Thats sad. I have seen her posts for years (in cooking and baking mostly)
hamsterjill
(17,059 posts)I always loved interacting with her. This is DU sadness.
brer cat
(27,362 posts)Condolences to her family.
tishaLA
(14,726 posts)we'll miss her and her many contributions.
NJCher
(42,522 posts)I noticed I had not seen posts from her in the last few days, but she had talked about being with family, so I thought she was busy with holiday gatherings.
I was going to post to ask about her.
I'm so sad to hear this. This place will not be the same without elleng.
PJMcK
(24,771 posts)When we sailed the Chesapeake a few years ago, we met up with Ellen on Solomons Island, MD which was near her home. We shared a delicious seafood dinner and wonderful conversation. I genuinely liked her immediately.
Her interests and knowledge were broad but her love for her family overshadowed everything. We frequently communicated on DU email and her calm intelligence was a hallmark of her personality. Of course, her love of food was evident from her posts on your daily dinner posts!
VTderry
(78 posts)before real life took me away from online life.)
I was in DC for a conference and we met for lunch near my hotel. She was the first "internet friend" I ever met in real life. She set a high bar.
I've been meaning to reach out to her to say "It's me" and how I still think of that lovely afternoon. And now I will carry regret that i waited too long.
Peaceful passage, Ellen. Your memory will certainly always be a blessing to me.
dalton99a
(92,179 posts)My deepest condolences to her family and friends.
Dear_Prudence
(1,051 posts)Hosts our photography forum
She will be so missed here.
Fla Dem
(27,428 posts)My sympathies go out to her family, she was truly a good person, may she rest in peace.
highplainsdem
(60,095 posts)I can't see what her daughter posted on FB. Sometimes I can see a posr there if a link is provided, but with this I just get a log-in page.
My condolences to all her friends and family. This was so sudden.
DFW
(59,747 posts)She was smart, informed, always civil.
We are poorer for her passing.
yellow dahlia
(4,614 posts)I am relatively new to DU, but her persona and presence were clear.
IbogaProject
(5,627 posts)I estimate she averaged just shy of 16 posts per day since March, 2004. 141,926 posts.
Permanut
(8,007 posts)Her memory will be a blessing, and I will miss her.
yorkster
(3,687 posts)She loved Smetana's Moldau.
What a voice to lose...
catchnrelease
(2,133 posts)She always had something interesting and/or informative to say. And I always checked out her posts. I will miss her so much! I hope there will be more info on what happened, it seems so sudden.
chowder66
(11,861 posts)HeartsCanHope
(1,531 posts)Elleng was a beloved member of the forum. She gave so much of herself to others. We were fortunate to have her as a DUer.
She will be missed.
YoshidaYui
(44,964 posts)she reached out to me several times in the past, she was very nice.
irisblue
(36,829 posts)Easterncedar
(5,545 posts)She was a lovely presence here. I will miss her
LoisB
(12,381 posts)SheltieLover
(76,920 posts)Deepest condolences to her family.
I will forever treaaure her posts of nature, especially the Spring she had the Osprey nest outside her window.
Soar with your beloved Osprey, Ellen!
elleng and I had become friends IRL. I miss her already.
She was funny, kind, thoughtful and she loved her family. A retired lawyer, she was smart and wise. elleng was a dedicated DUer who was fiercely progressive and a determined Democrat.
She loved food and her contributions to the Cooking and Baking forum were delicious.
RIP, dear friend.
2naSalit
(100,095 posts)But have had some interesting conversations on DU. She was one of the first DUers I had conversations with here. I've always appreciated her knowledge of the law. I will miss her too.
LostOne4Ever
(9,737 posts)LuckyCharms
(21,869 posts)BlueWaveNeverEnd
(12,903 posts)Laffy Kat
(16,865 posts)c-rational
(3,132 posts)Donkees
(33,416 posts)
Photo - Douglas Liu
When despair for the world grows in me...
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free. - Wendell Berry

ms liberty
(10,980 posts)Marthe48
(22,742 posts)I enjoyed seeing her posts and I will miss her.
R.I.P. elleng.
hlthe2b
(112,842 posts)I will be sending my love to her in whatever realm exists and my appreciation for her to her grieving family.
samplegirl
(13,741 posts)Read her posts all the time.
we can do it
(12,987 posts)BeyondGeography
(40,818 posts)I will miss her.
RIP dear Ellen and my condolences to her loved ones.
2naSalit
(100,095 posts)I like her! Haven't interacted much recently but...
Thank you for letting us know!
we can do it
(12,987 posts)UpInArms
(54,101 posts)Valiant and steadfast, you have been a unflinching warrior
You will be missed
blogslug
(39,086 posts)You were loved.
BootinUp
(50,962 posts)With her.
bucolic_frolic
(54,075 posts)Her daily doses of culture will be sorely missed.
Thanks for giving us courage these many months of 2025 and many years before.
ProfessorGAC
(75,864 posts)A pretty prolific poster. She'll be missed.
Emile
(40,671 posts)DeeDeeNY
(3,902 posts)Thank you for letting us know.
liberalla
(10,823 posts)She certainly will be missed here... she added so much!
My condolences to her family and friends.
lostincalifornia
(4,916 posts)cachukis
(3,676 posts)littlemissmartypants
(31,684 posts)Scrivener7
(58,401 posts)Mad_Dem_X
(10,131 posts)May she rest in peace.
PikaBlue
(429 posts)I so enjoyed her nature photos, especially those taken of the water in southern Maryland. They brought back happy memories of more than 50 years ago for me. Sending love to her family and friends. She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.
livetohike
(23,995 posts)and friends. I will miss her posts in the Outdoor Life group. Such a heavy sadness to hear this news
.
choie
(6,647 posts)She will be so missed here.
sinkingfeeling
(57,253 posts)missed and lovingly remembered here on DU.
debm55
(55,916 posts)Last edited Sun Dec 14, 2025, 09:25 AM - Edit history (1)
Niagara
(11,554 posts)We seem to keep losing all the friendly and beautiful souls here on DU.
Rest in Paradise, elleng.
Docreed2003
(18,709 posts)My deepest condolences to Ellen's family. She was such an incredibly warm and supportive person. She was one of my first friends here when I first joined this forum. In fact, we chatted frequently during some pretty tumultuous times on DU to commiserate and share our feelings. We shared a birthday and I always enjoyed slyly wishing her a Happy Birthday in posts without drawing attention. I will miss her presence here dearly.
Diamond_Dog
(39,796 posts)I always enjoyed her posts, recipes, and photographs of the river where she lived. Rest in Peace, Ellen. We will all miss you here with heavy hearts here at DU.
IronLionZion
(50,836 posts)she's often in the DC group.
Rest in Power
onethatcares
(16,965 posts)say how much she will be missed..
Nittersing
(8,122 posts)My condolences to all she touched.
mwmisses4289
(3,266 posts)🫂 to your family.
BumRushDaShow
(165,897 posts)I have been interacting with her on and off over the years, especially if I had any news items about Maryland.
What a loss but I send my condolences to her family and hope she is at peace now.
marble falls
(71,104 posts)Last edited Sun Dec 14, 2025, 12:10 PM - Edit history (1)
DinahMoeHum
(23,375 posts)CaptainTruth
(8,051 posts)JoeOtterbein
(7,864 posts)(tears)
underpants
(195,011 posts)Her friend was in town to go to a public hearing of some sort. We met and had lunch. What a truly kind wonderful person.
This makes me very sad.
❤️🕯️
Nanuke
(902 posts)CousinIT
(12,261 posts)...
Wishing EllenG's family strength and peace at this painful time. I know Ellen's memory will be a blessing to them as time goes on.
GPV
(73,370 posts)ms liberty
(10,980 posts)This shakes me a bit, she has been here almost as long as I have. I just commented on one of here posts, like two days ago.
Solly Mack
(96,374 posts)She was steadfast. I never told her, but I loved that about her.
Goodbye, Ellen.
May you soar always.
cate94
(3,050 posts)riversedge
(79,501 posts)Ocelot II
(129,161 posts)She was a DU mainstay, and such a sweet person! My deepest condolences to her family.
CBHagman
(17,432 posts)I so appreciated her, and I know her memory will be for a blessing.
Deepest sympathy to all in her circle of family and friends.
CaliforniaPeggy
(156,152 posts)May her memory be a blessing.
Sanity Claws
(22,339 posts)radical noodle
(10,483 posts)DU won't be the same without her.
Collimator
(2,081 posts)My heart goes out to her family and those DUers who felt a strong connection with her.
I had noticed that her location is in Maryland where I am and I had recently toyed with the idea of reaching out to her personally. Now, that chance is gone.
The tributes posted here are lovely. I hope they provide comfort to those dealing with the sharp pangs of loss.
There is no doubt that, with the easing of pain, her memory will carry on as a song of joy; a blessing indeed.
Thank you, Elleng, for the good that you brought into the world.
marmar
(79,274 posts)whathehell
(30,363 posts)I read her posts every day.
Ninga
(8,984 posts)miss her posts.
lapfog_1
(31,676 posts)I loved her posts. I just responded to one a few days ago.
quaint
(4,671 posts)applegrove
(130,349 posts)Beacool
(30,501 posts)She was posting this week. I'm so sorry to lose a longtime and valuable DU member.
My condolences to her family and loved ones.
Rest in peace, Ellen. You will be missed.
Polly Hennessey
(8,580 posts)Elleng, I loved your posts. Always read them. I am still shocked. Dear Elleng, I will miss you so much.
democrank
(12,168 posts)Rest in peace, Ellen.
NNadir
(37,314 posts)Clouds Passing
(7,049 posts)WheelWalker
(9,382 posts)Miles Archer
(21,823 posts)Condolences to Julie for the loss of her mom.
leftstreet
(38,875 posts)AllaN01Bear
(28,617 posts)bronxiteforever
(11,108 posts)the impersonal medium of the net to touch one personally. Ellen was an exceptional human and humane person. I will miss her dearly and may her memory be a blessing and light to all who knew her.
Sneederbunk
(17,269 posts)Emile
(40,671 posts)in the cooking forum.
Breaks my heart, she was a lovely person.
hermetic
(9,140 posts)She was a great lady. RIP
cbabe
(6,221 posts)Maraya1969
(23,419 posts)surfered
(11,616 posts)RIP!
MacKasey
(1,493 posts)Onthefly
(1,156 posts)As a fellow Marylander, we shared a love of the Patuxent River and bay. She was a regular at my cousins restaurant.
justaprogressive
(6,313 posts)a shining light is gone.
xocetaceans
(4,346 posts)She had a great presence here and contributed a fantastic amount to this forum.
RIP.
Alliepoo
(2,768 posts)I enjoyed reading her and loved the photos she posted. She will be missed. My condolences to her family and friends. Wishing them peace and comfort.
debm55
(55,916 posts)Leghorn21
(14,023 posts)I am also glad that she was active and doing things she loved right up to her last moments
Deepest condolences to her family. And her DU family as well.
She will be sorely missed
OLDMDDEM
(3,040 posts)kimbutgar
(26,836 posts)I remember reading her posts. She will be missed here on DU. RIP Elleng .
PatSeg
(52,226 posts)I must say I was rather shocked. Ellen has been a Facebook friend for quite some time and was also part of the original Joe Biden group here on DU.
She will truly be missed.
Grumpy Old Guy
(4,222 posts)I am so sorry to hear this. She will be missed in the Photography forum!
pandr32
(13,805 posts)May we all take comfort in her memories and the light that she gave.
sheshe2
(95,961 posts)Peace to elleng and her family. 💕
nocoincidences
(2,465 posts)I will miss her posts and photos.
QueerDuck
(1,034 posts)Rest in Peace.
DelMar dem
(70 posts)Deepest condolences to her family.
Catherine Vincent
(34,603 posts)Bayard
(28,646 posts)I always read her posts, and enjoyed the photos of the wonderful area where she lived.
Sad here. I will miss her. This seems very sudden.
angrychair
(11,709 posts)Absolutely one one my favorite people on DU.
bluestarone
(21,223 posts)MLAA
(19,670 posts)May her spirit remain with us. 🩷🩷🩷
harumph
(3,115 posts)I've been reading and responding to her posts for several years.
Mike Nelson
(10,920 posts)question everything
(51,704 posts)Some years back we were following her brain treatment.
May her memory be blessed.
Greybnk48
(10,669 posts)TygrBright
(21,301 posts)lpbk2713
(43,248 posts)I regret I haven't kept up with Elleng. I don't read or post as much as I used to.
She was a valuable asset to the DU community. Her loss will be felt.
FemDemERA
(685 posts)Her presence will truly be missed on DU. May the memories of Ellen wrap all in love and be of comfort in coming days.
Hekate
(100,132 posts)EarlG
(23,390 posts)She will be missed. My condolences to her family.
yonder
(10,246 posts)Her calm presence will be missed.
Condolences to her family and friends.
orangecrush
(28,542 posts)She was always so nice to me.
Deepest sympathy
Blue Owl
(58,181 posts)And I will be forever grateful for all the classical music postings she contributed on DU, and will miss them
..
cilla4progress
(26,488 posts)I enjoyed her posts!
RIP elleng.
malaise
(292,926 posts)Deepest sympathy to family and friends.
I cant believe this
Vogon_Glory
(10,200 posts)My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.
wendyb-NC
(4,605 posts)She posted jut a couple of days ago. She will be missed so much. I loved her posts.
Oh dear Ellen, R.I.P.
KT2000
(21,967 posts)here as she had such good posts. Thanks to Elleng for spreading her kindness.
LNM
(1,225 posts)She was a sweet person. Ill miss her Metropolitan Diary posts.
RIP elleng. 🕯️
Cha
(316,916 posts)Rest in Peace and Loving Memory, elleng💙
slightlv
(7,438 posts)I'm sorry for her family... and us. I messaged often with elleng... I'll miss her voice and her presence here. May she rest in power and see us through these dark days. My sympathies and wishes for healing peace to her family.
JudyM
(29,570 posts)Especially about classical music... reminded me to keep expanding my appreciation of it. I loved her presence here on DU for so many years.
cally
(21,831 posts)Im sad
Ford_Prefect
(8,515 posts)Marie Marie
(10,899 posts)Phentex
(16,686 posts)I don't even know how this is possible. I feel like I knew her even though we never met. She was here. She was always here.
My husband just asked me why I'm sobbing. He doesn't understand. I am crushed and I can't imagine how her family feels.
I always thought I might get to visit her on her little island. I will miss her!
Aristus
(71,675 posts)We bonded over classical music. Our DU friendship dates back to around 2008 or so. She was a pillar of the DU family/community.
I'm so sorry to hear about your Mom's passing. I always looked forward to reading her posts.
My deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Again, elleng will be missed by her DU family.
LetMyPeopleVote
(175,074 posts)MustLoveBeagles
(14,805 posts)greatauntoftriplets
(178,635 posts)mountain grammy
(28,695 posts)Oh no! My deepest sympathies to her family. I will surely miss her here.
Terrible news. So sad.
May she rest in peace.
herding cats
(19,974 posts)May her memory be a blessing. I know it will be such to me.
I've said for decades DU is a community and not just a message board. Ellen was one of our community, and a personal friend to me. We're a bit less bright now without her light. Go gently sweet, kind and dear old friend.
Silver Gaia
(5,255 posts)Sending as much love as I can muster to her family and to DU at large. I did not know her personally, but she was a big part of DU and will be missed. Peace, love, and blessings to those who need them.
3catwoman3
(28,609 posts)H2O Man
(78,653 posts)BlueKota
(5,053 posts)TBF
(35,682 posts)IA8IT
(6,352 posts)Figarosmom
(9,790 posts)She was a beautiful and thoughtful woman.
mahina
(20,436 posts)BigmanPigman
(54,596 posts)First I just learned about Rob Reiner and now this news. I've been crying for 10 minutes straight.
What a terrible day.
Elleng will be missed.
Why doesn't the fucking orange moron die? Everyone good dies but he lives. Life is not fair.
róisín_dubh
(12,231 posts)I dont come in the Lounge much but I interacted with here a lot elsewhere on DU. She seemed like such a kind soul.
May her memory be a blessing
mysteryowl
(8,100 posts)I could tell she was a loving person.
I am glad to have met her on DU.
qanda
(10,434 posts)RIP Sweet Ellen. 😢
scipan
(2,977 posts)Although I seldom post, I had at least two interactions with her. She seemed like someone I'd like to know, and I felt a bond with her because she lived close to me and watched PBS often. I also valued her legal takes and her humor.
She seemed so warm and accepting to strangers here. She touched more lives than she could ever know. I'll miss her
So sorry she's gone. Peace to those close to her.
1WorldHope
(1,862 posts)I wish I had known her better.
My heart felt wishes for her daughter and family.
orleans
(36,676 posts)this is such sad news
she was loved
& she will be remembered and missed
Sparkly
(24,827 posts)She was a steadfast supporter of all that is right, good, and just. And she was a friend! For so many years.
PCIntern
(27,980 posts)She was so supportive and kind, a terrific human being. May her memory always be for a blessing.
Raine
(31,095 posts)I just found out, she was here just a couple days ago. I can hardly believe it, she will be missed so much by me and many others.
R-I-P Ellen 🌹
Wolf Frankula
(3,814 posts)Sorry she's gone.
Mz Pip
(28,355 posts)She will be missed here.
JoseBalow
(9,182 posts)She will be missed.
senseandsensibility
(24,259 posts)She was always supportive and kind spirited, and really helped lift the atmosphere of this place. RIP, elleng. My sympathies to her family, and may her memory be a blessing.
electric_blue68
(25,965 posts)OAITW r.2.0
(31,522 posts)We had some good interactions over the years. I never met her IRL, but I know this was a person who loved her family, her music, and her little piece of of the Bay.
Thanks and God Bless, elleng.