Ellen Teresa Conroy McNamara of Stamford, Connecticut, died peacefully in Red Bank July 30, 2023, in the company of her husband Gregory McNamara, her brother Jim Conroy, her daughter Michal DiMiceli and her son Martin Albanese.
Ellen was born in Rockville Center, New York, in 1950, the oldest of eight children, to Martin Conroy, an advertising writer and executive, and Joan Crowley, a homemaker. As the family grew, they moved to Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and then Wellesley, Massachusetts, before returning to Greenwich for the next two decades.
Ellen attended St. Mary’s High School in Greenwich and graduated from Greenwich High School in 1968. After one year at Newton College of the Sacred Heart in Massachusetts, she transferred to the University of Connecticut, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in 1973.
Ellen married and settled first in Port Chester, New York, with her family, then moved to Greenwich. She enjoyed restoring and decorating their homes, perfect for welcoming friends and hosting holidays for the large extended family. Ellen was a loving and devoted mother whose unconditional love was ever-present.
After dedicating her life to her children, in her 40s, Ellen went back to earn a master’s degree in education at Manhattanville College, eventually becoming a teacher at Westhill High School in Stamford, Connecticut, working with students with special needs whom she adored, until her retirement in 2019.
Ellen reconnected with Greg, her high school sweetheart, later in life and the two were married in 2000, moving into a Craftsman home in Stamford, a short walk from Westhill High School.
In January 2020, Ellen received a diagnosis of stage 4 ovarian cancer and began her three-and-a-half-year battle with the disease, handling every step with grace, humor, strength and style.
Ellen experienced so much joy in her final years, living life to the fullest, visiting with friends and family, watching her grandchild Segovia participate in many activities and enjoying delicious meals and specialty cocktails at local restaurants.
Ellen is survived by her husband Gregory McNamara; her son Martin Albanese of Philadelphia; her daughter Michal DiMiceli, son-in-law Joe DiMiceli and grandchild Segovia DiMiceli of Fair Haven; her stepson Gregory McNamara, his wife Maria and grandson Gregory Jameson of Clinton, Connecticut; her sister Janice Albert of Seattle, Washington, and Palm Desert, California; and her six brothers: Pete Conroy of Decatur and Mineral Bluff, Georgia; John of New York City and Vero Beach, Florida; Tom of Madison, Connecticut; Dennis of Darien, Connecticut; Jim of Westport, Connecticut; and David of New Milford, Connecticut; as well as numerous beloved sisters- and brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Ellen McNamara was well-loved and wanted the best for all of her loved ones and, although she was a petite woman, she had a large and welcoming presence. Ellen, “Honey,” will be greatly missed.
A Memorial Mass was held Aug. 17 at Saint Michael the Archangel Church, Greenwich. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Ellen’s memory to Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Thompson Memorial Home of Red Bank has been entrusted with the arrangements.
This article originally appeared in the August 24 – 30, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
