1925 ~ 2018

Ellen Hart Smylie (“The Firecracker”), passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Born on July 5, 1925 in her grandmother’s house (Grandma Mary Ellen Cleary) in Brooklyn, NY.   Grandma Hart nicknamed her “the firecracker” citing that she found Ellen among the fireworks while cleaning up after the July 4th celebrations.  Ellen would live up to that nickname for the remainder of her life.

 Ellen attended grade school at Our Lady of Guadalupe, located only two doors down from her grandmother’s house. She attended St Brendan Catholic High School, and then continued to Brooklyn College where she remained until she left to enter the USO (United States Overseas) in February 1946. Ellen and thousands of young Americans went to Europe (Germany) to entertain the troops who were still stationed there after WWII.  After a six-month stint with the USO, Ellen returned to Brooklyn College and received her degree in English Literature.

 Dancing was Ellen’s true passion and she began her dancing career very young. When Fred Astaire opened his dance studios in NY, Ellen worked there as a dance instructor met the man who became the love of her life – Rost Smylie.  Ellen and Rost fell in love, married, raised a family and remained deeply in love until Rosty’s passing on April 20, 2011.

 Left to honor Ellen and remember her love and devotion are her five children, Richard (Susan), Russell (deceased) (Liz), Enid (Joe Awad), Lieu (Chuck Barrett) and TuLynn. Also surviving Ellen are her brother George, her sister, Florence, as well as 11 grandchildren, Nickolas, Alex, Phillip, Kevin, Aimee, Caitlin, Griffin, Ryan, Tien, Kieran and Elena and 8 nieces and nephews:  George Jr., Peter, Amy, Tommy, Eileen, Edward, Ellen, Kevin. Ellen was devoted to her family, and her family were equally devoted to her. 

 Ellen truly lived her life to the fullest. She viewed life as always “a FULL GLASS” and never half empty.

 Honoring their wish, Ellen’s remains along with Rosty’s will be returned to Sag Harbor, NY.  A Celebration of her Life will be held at St Andrew Catholic Church in Sag Harbor on April 21, 2018 at 12 P.M.