STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Ellen Mitchell, a devoted nurse and longtime member of Staten Island’s performing arts community, died on Oct. 5. She was 67.
Born in Brooklyn on Aug. 16, 1958, Ellen moved with her family to Staten Island at age 11, where she built a life defined by compassion, creativity, and connection.
She devoted her professional career to caring for others, working as a registered nurse and later as a nurse practitioner at several New York City hospitals, including St. Vincent’s NYC, NY Presbyterian, and Lutheran Medical Center.
“She was fiercely a patient advocate,” said Al Lambert, a longtime friend and fellow performer. “From what I heard, she cared deeply about every person under her care.”
In this 2005 photo, from left to right, Ellen Mitchell, Joseph Loffredo and Joanne Maragni in a scene from the Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre Company’s production of “California Suite.”(Advance/SILive.com | Hilton Flores)A life on stage
Outside her medical work, Ellen was a vibrant presence in Staten Island’s community theater scene. For years, she graced the stage in various productions, showcasing her talent for acting and singing.
Lambert, who had known Ellen for over 40 years after meeting at the Hidden Talent Show in the early 1980s at the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook, shared admiration for her talent and professionalism.
“She was as good as many people on Broadway,” said Lambert. “It was her choice to do what she did locally. She had a voice from God, and she had the comic ability and even dramatic ability.”
Ellen was involved in Lambert’s South Shore Rotary Shows, appearing in 19 of the 21 productions he directed.
“My standard line was I hated to do the show if Ellen wasn’t in it, because she added so much to it,” said Lambert.
Even in the final months of her life, Ellen continued performing. During the summer, she took the stage in the College of Staten Island’s “Fiddler on the Roof,” delivering what Lambert called “an amazing performance.”
“She performed till the very end — she was the Tony Bennett of Staten Island theater,” added Lambert.
Ellen’s impact extended to the Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre Company, which remembered her on Facebook as “a true local icon” whose energy lit up the stage for decades.
The company shared admiration for Ellen’s humor and generous spirit through good and challenging times. She directed several plays for them, including “The Weir,” “The Heidi Chronicles,” and “Sisters Rosensweig.”
She also delivered memorable performances in productions such as “Dancing at Lughnasa,” “Plaza Suite,” “And The World Goes Round,” “Sweeney Todd,” “The Prisoner of Second Avenue,” and “The Nerd.”
Featured in the Staten Island Shakespearean Theater Company’s production of “The Prisoner of Second Avenue” are, from left, Jean Callahan, Deborah Starr Knapp, and Ellen Mitchell. (Advance/SILive.com | Michael McWeeney)
The theater company praised Ellen for her willingness to share herself fully with audiences, both on and off stage, leaving a lasting mark on all who experienced her work. This same generosity and passion carried through every aspect of her life.
Ellen, who lived in Richmond, was a passionate traveler, enjoying exploring new destinations or cruising the open seas. As a lifelong Disney fan, she was particularly drawn to the studio’s female villains for their theatrical flair and bold personalities. At home, she expressed her creativity through scrapbooking, meticulously preserving memories and moments for herself and her family, according to her obituary.
She is survived by her sister, Catherine Mitchell, and her brothers, Deacon Richard Mitchell and John Mitchell and his wife, Bonnie.
Beyond her professional accomplishments and stage performances, friends and family remember Ellen for her warmth, generosity, and humor.
“She was a genuine human being, also attentive to the people who she knew and always interested in their lives,” said Lambert. “She never put herself up before anyone else. She was an amazing individual.”
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