Ellen N. Lawson

Ellen N. Lawson, age 77 of Oxford, passed away, due to pancreatic cancer, at her residence on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, in the company of her children.

Ellen was born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 18, 1944 to Frederick Langenheim and Ruth Hodsdon Langenheim. She showed an early interest in words and events, creating a successful newspaper route by the age of twelve. She obtained a Bachelors from Swarthmore College (Penn.), then a Masters in teaching from Wesleyan University (Conn.) and a Ph.D. in history from Case Western Reserve University (Ohio). In 1965, she married Michael Henle and lived in Oberlin, Ohio, where they had two children (Alea and Josh), and where Michael was a math professor and Ellen worked as an assistant dean of students.

Ellen and Michael divorced in 1981, and Ellen subsequently had an adventurous life, living in many different places - including Bainbridge Island (Washington), Cleveland Heights (Ohio), Longview (Washington), Ocean Park (Washington), Washington D.C., Culpeper (Virginia), Twin Mountain (New Hampshire), Estes Park (Colorado), Loveland (Colorado), Longmont (Colorado), and Oxford (Ohio).

She overcame a challenging childhood to become successful in many areas.  She pursued several different careers.

History proved a central passion throughout her life. Her publications include The Three Sarahs: Documents of Antebellum Black College Woman and Smugglers, Bootleggers, and Scofflaws: Prohibition and New York City, and she had just put the finishing touches on another manuscript (about Joseph Kennedy) shortly before her death. She was very aware of social issues and helped to found the first women’s studies department in Oberlin Ohio in the 1970s.  She also taught African American history at Case Western Reserve University.  She also independently published a children's book about life on whalers in the late nineteenth-century, which she presented at school programs which included teaching children to sing sea shanties. She was successful with investments in real estate, fixing up at least 7 houses over 20 years. As an artist, she studied at Clatsop Community College in Astoria Oregon, and had several successful art shows in the Long Beach area.

Her children remember her as a font of interesting and dynamic storytelling.  She could light up a room or an evening with unexpected theatrics and delightful comedy. She also had extraordinarily infectious laughter.

She cared deeply for her children, and stayed very connected to them throughout her life, taking a supportive interest in their hobbies, careers, and relationships.

Ellen is survived by her children, Alea Henle and Josh Medley; daughter-in-law, Tasha Medley; sister, Anne Yentsch, and brother, David Langenheim. Ellen was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters Martha Mitchell and Kathy Eastman.

Private memorial services will be held by the family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Cincinnati.  Condolences can be made at www.browndawsonflick.com