Remembering Ellen Marth
The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences celebrates the life and mourns the loss of our friend and colleague Ellen Fitzsimmons Marth, who passed away on Nov. 25, 2021.
Ellen served as manager of Payroll and Human Resources in BSOS. She started with the college in 2011 as a payroll coordinator, and was promoted to manager because of her outstanding contributions. She worked diligently in that role until her passing. She joined the University of Maryland community in 1998 as a member of the University Human Resources team.
Countless talented faculty and staff members, graduate assistants and undergraduate student employees were recruited, welcomed and assisted by Ellen, who was often a first point of contact for new employees. She was an expert in her field, and shared her time and knowledge with many people in BSOS and throughout the university.
“Ellen was convinced by her longtime friend and Business Manager for Payroll Donna Middledorf to join BSOS. Ellen earned the reputation as the BSOS ‘secret weapon’ with managing complex issues, writing job descriptions, and maneuvering the university’s applicant management system. She was a resource, not just for BSOS but for the entire campus,” said Assistant Dean for Administration and Finance Ann Holmes. “She was the unofficial ‘help desk’ for a variety of administrative issues.”
In addition to being an outstanding colleague, Ellen was a dear friend to many. She took great pleasure in talking about her late husband; her two sons, Rick and Bryan; and her beloved grandchildren. She spoke of her family with pride and fondness.
“Ellen was first my friend, and later we became co-workers. We enjoyed each other—Ellen was calm and patient, and I am hyper and erratic, which made a great balance in both our personal and working lives,” Middledorf said. “Rest in peace, my dear buddy.”
Ellen also enjoyed asking about the lives, families, friends and interests of her colleagues. In so doing, she fostered a sense of community in BSOS and throughout campus. Her humor, her warmth and her supportive personality will be dearly missed.
“Ellen made us all better. She was smart, funny, and her wit could leave us wondering how she could so quickly find the humor in so many situations. She cared deeply about the university and the faculty, staff, and the especially students she came in contact with each day. She shared her wisdom, promoted and encouraged talent, and enjoyed helping others find solutions to complicated problems,” Holmes said.
Professor Hoda Mahmoudi, the incumbent of the Baha’i Chair for World Peace, said, “I loved the soul of that woman. She had a heart as big as the world.”
A memorial service will be held for Ellen Marth at 1 p.m. on Dec. 13 at St. Jerome's Catholic Church, 5205 43rd Ave., Hyattsville, Md.
Image originally posted on LinkedIn.
Published on Mon, Nov 29, 2021 - 3:01PM