Wednesday, July 5, 2017
As an independent real estate broker, I have known Ellen as Shaul’s employee for many years. From before Shaul was CIM and Ellen worked for him at his office in Santa Monica. For over 20 years I’ve known Ellen. We have closed many escrows together. But what did I really know about her? How could I have known Ellen for so long and really not know her.
I may not know where she vacationed or her favorite movie or what she did in her spare time but here is what I know about Ellen.
I know she worked hard and I appreciate people who work hard.
I know she was always trying to do her best. Even when things got tense, I knew that she was trying to do her best. And there’s a comfort in working with someone who you know is always trying to do their best. A comfort in knowing the job will get done.
And the job always got done. She was a professional and professionals get the job done.
Ellen never gave up. Never skipped a beat. She kept firing from all cylinders at all hours of the day and night. She was strong and people relied on her strength. She was intelligent and people relied on her intelligence and on her word. And her word was good. She was honest and trustworthy.
Thank you Ellen, for the lessons you taught me, the experiences we shared, the wisdom you imparted, the escrows we closed and yes, there was laughter. Ellen could spring her sense of humor on you when you least expected it. She was a great combination of intensity and wit.
And once in awhile, she even got to say I told you so. I was always her student and she was mine. We were always learning from each other.
I feel a great loss, like she's the first of our little group to go, of Ellen and Shaul and Avi and the world feels smaller because of her passing. I always pictured Ellen as someone they would have to force into retirement, that she would never retire, never quit, never give up, never stop trying. She would be reading title reports and contracts, closing statements and escrow instructions, long into the night.
Now that night has fallen. There is quiet at the end of the line.
Rest in Peace, Ellen Rose.
