Eleanor B. "Ellie" Wymard

Ellie Wymard, born January 20, 1937 in Braddock, PA, passed away age 84 on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 from complications from a severe stroke suffered two weeks earlier. She was married to Joe Wymard, her husband of 56 years who predeceased her in 2020. She is survived by her son Josh T. of Dallas, TX and grandsons Tom, Jake and Beau, and son Peter C. (Bonnie) of Gibsonia, PA and grandchildren Elizabeth, Jack, Gus and Mary. She was predeceased by her parents Peter J. and Eleanor Buntag (nee Barrett) and by her sister Marie B. Grigassy.  Ellie was born and raised in Braddock and Squirrel Hill and attended Mount Mercy Academy. She subsequently graduated from what is now Carlow University and completed her Ph. D. in American Literature at the University of Pittsburgh. Upon completion of her Ph. D., Ellie returned to Carlow where she created and taught some of the first Women’s Studies courses in the nation. Throughout her nearly fifty-year career at Carlow, she held positions as both the Chair of the Women’s Studies and English Departments, and at the time of her retirement she was the director of Carlow’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program, a residency program which was held in both Pittsburgh and Dublin, Ireland.   An accomplished author, Ellie published four books, the latest being Talking Steel Towns: The Women and Men of America’s Steel Valley (Carnegie Mellon University Press). She appeared on radio and television shows throughout the United States and spoke before professional and general interest groups on topics related to her books, and her critical essays on women writers were published in numerous journals in both the US and Europe. During her tenure at Carlow, Ellie developed the Madwomen in the Attic poetry workshops, the Women’s Studies program, the Marie Torre Lecture Series, the Honors Program, and the Focus on Women Lecture Series. Ellie was named a finalist for the Athena Award, an award given to an exceptional individual who has achieved the highest level of professional excellence and contributed time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community, and actively assisted others—particularly women—in realizing their full leadership potential. Ellie was also awarded the Carlow Woman of Spirit Award, an award given to outstanding women, who as leaders in the community exemplify the Carlow University mission. In 2012, she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities by Carlow University. In addition to spending time with her family, reading and writing, Ellie enjoyed her vacation times in both Chatham, MA and Vero Beach, FL. There will be no public visitation at this time. All are welcome to attend a Mass of Christian Burial that will be held on  Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland at 10:00AM. Interment will follow at Homewood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts in Ellie’s memory be made to Carlow University, or to the Pittsburgh Symphony. Arrangements by JOHN A. FREYVOGEL SONS, INC. (freyvogelfuneralhome.com)

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