Born June 15, 1950, Ellen Jean (Schroeder) Mannoia brought joy and life to her family, friends and colleagues for 57 years. Her strength, energy, and smile, but especially her remarkable unselfishness, spanned the breadth of her life – and no less so than during her twenty-year battle with breast cancer.

Ellen was born in Detroit, MI and raised in Peoria, IL. She lost her mother at age 16, and worked all the years of high school in a drug store.

Ellen attended Northern Illinois University for three years and then transferred to St. Louis University, where she received a B.S. in Physical Therapy in 1973. She worked fulltime at St. Joseph Hospital in Kirkwood, MO for two years following graduation. In addition, she served as clinical supervisor for physical therapy students from St. Louis University. While employed there she developed the chest physical therapy program. Following her employment in St. Louis she worked in the V.A. hospital near Grove City, PA and then part-time at various therapy centers while raising her children in Santa Barbara, CA.

Ellen and Jim met at St. Louis University in a philosophy class. Their 35-year marriage began August 26, 1972, an adventurous journey that included as many colleges as it did countries. As Jim’s wife, Ellen graced the halls of Grove City College, Westmont College, the University of Zimbabwe, Houghton College, and Greenville College. Their life together has also taken them to places such as two years in Zimbabwe, where Ellen was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1988, Europe with Westmont students, Brazil, and the far east, as well as a three-month sabbatical last fall in Portugal and Italy.

Ellen’s love for her family was amazingly unselfish. She was mother to son, Jim, and his wife, Lyla, and daughter, Eva Marie, and her husband, Brandon. Jim works as an investment banker in Manhattan and Eva Marie is an attorney in Orange County, CA. Ellen’s love for her husband and children was exceeded only by her love for her Lord and Savior Jesus. She was a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Greenville Free Methodist Church.

Ellen’s commitment to community created deep connection between her and the students. She both cared for them and inspired them. Jim and Ellen frequently welcomed students to their home. Ellen delivered the 2000 Baccalaureate address at the request of the graduating senior class. GC students respected the dignity and courage she demonstrated in battling the recurrence of breast cancer.

Ellen exuded courage and character. But perhaps her greatest virtue was her lack of self-centeredness. She was always thinking of others and doing things for them. These included making cookies for all the athletic teams and signature knitting and needlework projects for friends around the world. Her personal touch on this campus, visible in many buildings, including the newly named Ellen J. Mannoia Hall, will remain a constant reminder of God’s visible grace on our campus through the life of Ellen Mannoia.

Memorials may be made to the Ellen J. Mannoia Hall Endowment at Greenville College.

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