1948
Ellen
2023
Ellen Pauline Alterman
January 2, 1948 — December 7, 2023
Durango
On December 7th, Durango lost a talented, kind and unique individual when Ellen Alterman decided to nope out of even the slightest possibility of a second Trump presidency by dying peacefully in her bed surrounded by loved ones.
Ellen was born in Atlanta Georgia in 1948 to Miriam Schiff & Abe Alterman. She grew up with an older sister Rima, and a younger brother Ben, as well as a large extended family of Jewish immigrants from Russia. Growing up Jewish in Atlanta during the era of segregation and civil rights activism made her very sensitive to the struggles of other people. Her sensitive nature also led to a love for music and poetry. She showed an incredible skill for writing poetry from a very young age, showing wisdom beyond her years by writing about themes tackling life and death, love and loss. She was also an accomplished flutist by the time she was in high school, having played a concerto with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra when she was only 15 and attending the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy.
Ellen was born in Atlanta Georgia in 1948 to Miriam Schiff & Abe Alterman. She grew up with an older sister Rima, and a younger brother Ben, as well as a large extended family of Jewish immigrants from Russia. Growing up Jewish in Atlanta during the era of segregation and civil rights activism made her very sensitive to the struggles of other people. Her sensitive nature also led to a love for music and poetry. She showed an incredible skill for writing poetry from a very young age, showing wisdom beyond her years by writing about themes tackling life and death, love and loss. She was also an accomplished flutist by the time she was in high school, having played a concerto with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra when she was only 15 and attending the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy.
She attended the Boston Conservatory of Music just as the counterculture movement was getting started in the 1960s. During this transformative era, she attended anti-war protests, academic lectures and talks on feminism and civil rights which informed her worldview for the rest of her life. She became a lifelong hippy who believed in peace, equality and inclusivity.
In 1980 she had two daughters, Thea and Chloe. The family moved to Durango where she played in a variety of musical groups with a wide range of musical styles, from bluegrass to swing. She took up stand-up bass, and though she was only 5'2" she managed to get an amazing sound out of that bass for many years.
She is survived by her daughters Thea and Chloe, Son-in-law Matt, grandchildren David, Nora and Juliet, her Step Mother Elizabeth, her Brother Ben, Sisters Rima, Debbie and Joy, Niece Naomi and Nephew Seth.
She was much loved and will be greatly missed.
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