Joseph Gerard Ello, Jr.

Mr. Joseph G. Ello, Jr., died peacefully, in Ocean Springs, surrounded by his loving family, on Saturday, January 27, 2007. He was 84. Joe was fondly known as a gentle plain-spoken educator. His ability to discern the talent of even the most timorous student brought the joy of self-realization to generations of young adults and adolescents. A musician in spirit and training, Joe's swing-band performances leavened tense times beyond his New Orleans to the jungles of the Far-East theatre of war, honorably serving his country in the Army Air Corps in WWII. Armed with degrees from Loyola and LSU, Joe taught music and directed high school bands across south Mississippi before directing and enhancing the show bands of Pearl River Junior College for a decade. In 1963 he and his young family moved to Ocean Springs, becoming band director of the Greyhounds. He also graciously served Biloxi's Sacred Heart Academy in that capacity. As he furthered his own professional education, he became "Dr. Ello" to his students, and rose to the position of Chairman of Fine Arts at the Jackson County campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Later, he happily mocked "retirement" by remaining an instructor in education psychology at MGCCC into this past semester. In the classroom, as with his family, the lesson Joe taught best was embodied in his sanguine approach to life. His wife Marthann Ello of Ocean Springs attests to his loving, guiding character, and was at his side last month as the community lauded him at the christening of the musicians' production studio in Ocean Springs co-named in his honor. As far-reaching as his local influence was to our youth, his peers also found thought-provoking wisdom in his skeptical approach to the politics of the day. For Joe, conservative fad was of insufficient use in promoting a society richer in justice and opportunity. Mindful of the America he sprang from in New Orleans' depression years, he cultivated free-thinking in ecumenical dinner-evenings around the Coast, and abroad in today's e-mail network. Joe Ello's death was preceded by the 1991 passing of Jeanne Leche Ello, the mother of his three daughters: Terry (Mark) Stebly of Ocean Springs, MS., Geri (Mike) Tannehill of Destrehan, LA., and Carol (Fred) Dale of Ocean Springs. He is survived by his dear brother, Jim (Barbara) Ello of Harahan, LA., and their daughters, Judy (Jim) Egloff and Gina Ello (John Egloff). Joe, of course, was grand, and those that called him "Paw-Paw" are Matthew and Jeanne Elise Stebly, Kyle and his half-brother Seth Fields, Bradley, Emily and Brian Dale. Joining them as step-grandchildren are Melissa, Lance, and Josh Tannehill.With Joe's marriage to Marthann, Joe welcomed into his life her children Beth Webb, Eric and Jeff Eldridge, along with their children, Stacey, Sarah, Paul, Anna, Robert, Jessica, Alex, Erica, Tyler, Zachary, and Rachel. Joseph Ello was a Christian, a faithful member of the Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 3, 2007, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Ocean Springs, where he worshipped in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Friends may visit from 12 Noon until 2:00 PM. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.