Dr. Haskell Ellison

Dr. Haskell Ellison was born on June 27,1926 in Charleston, South Carolina, son of the late
Morris Ellison and Sarah Bielsky Ellison. He was predeceased by older sister Ruth Toby Ellison
Seid (Dallas, TX) and younger brother Morton Ellison (Charleston, SC). He was only (9) years
old when his father passed away, and Dr. Ellison was raised among his many beloved first
cousins while his mother ran a successful shoe business as a single parent beginning in the
1930s. At one time, the business had as many as 3 stores. Dr. Ellison excelled at school and
graduated two years early from Charleston High School, starting college at the Citadel at the
age of 16. He transferred to Duke University after his first semester and then joined the Navy
during World War II. After his service in the Navy, he returned to Duke and graduated in 1947.
Utilizing the GI bill, he enrolled at the Medical College of South Carolina. After graduating in
1951, he went to the University of Alabama in Birmingham and was one of two interns under Dr.
Tinsley Harrison who edited the preeminent textbook Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Ellison later served as a Research Fellow in Medicine at Beth Israel Hospital affiliated with
Harvard University studying Endocrinology and specialized in Cardiovascular disease. He
returned to Charleston as Chief Resident at the Medical College of South Carolina. He later
became a (Clinical) Professor of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina as well as
Chief of the Medical Staff at both Roper Hospital and St Francis Hospital. He also served as
President of the Medical Society of South Carolina and of the Widows and Orphans Society. For
many years, he was the Director of the EKG laboratory at Roper Hospital, providing
consultation for over 30 years. He was a dedicated physician to the local community, caring for
patients throughout the Lowcountry for over 50 years, with intelligence, warmth and wisdom. Dr.
Ellison was also committed to serving the Jewish community and served as a long term board
member of Brith Sholom Beth Israel Synagogue where he also served several terms as a Vice
President. He was a member of the board of the Jewish Welfare Fund and its successor, the
Charleston Jewish Federation, where he chaired the Allocation Committee for several terms. He
was a member of the Board of the Hebrew Benevolent Society and the Hebrew Orphans
Society. Most importantly, Dr. Ellison was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and recently,
great-grandfather – always with a listening ear, a kind word, and a quick wit. Dr. Ellison loved
sailing in Charleston Harbor, playing golf with dear friends, trying to perfect his swing under the
tutelage of his good friend Henry Picard, and even proving to his children that he could still
water-ski well into his 70s. Once, when asked by one of his children why he didn’t want to travel
more, he replied of his beautiful life in Charleston, “Why do I need to go anywhere? I have
everything I could ever want right here.”
Dr. Ellison is survived by his wife of 67 years, Barbara (Jaffe), five children: Morris Ellison
(Deborah) of Charleston, SC , David Ellison (Julie) of Charleston, SC, Frances Ellison of
Atlanta, GA, Alec Ellison (Pam) of Greenwich, CT and Wendy Ellison Armon (Bruce) of
Abington, PA. Dr. Ellison has 14 grandchildren, Matthew (Natalie), Sarah, Hannah, Benjamin
(Eden), Danielle, Becca, Jonathan, Will, Judah, Ross, Spencer, Tess, Eva and Lila, and two
great-grandchildren, Theo and Lynn.
The funeral service will be held at the graveside, Sunday February 26, 2023 in Brith Sholom Beth Israel Cemetery (Maryville) at 3:30 p.m.  Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Downtown Chapel.
Donations in his memory can be made to Brith Sholom Beth Israel Synagogue, Addlestone
Hebrew Academy or the Roper St. Francis Foundation.
A memorial message may be written to the family at www.jhenrystuhr.com