Ellie Minor passed away peacefully on Saturday February 7, 2004 after a long battle with breast cancer. She was a beloved partner, friend, teacher, coach, daughter and sister. Ellie was preceded in death by her father, Leonard Minor. Loved and remembered by her partner Nancy Burnham; mother and step-father, Dee and Dick Flanders; brothers and sister-in-laws, Steve and Patricia Minor and Greg and India Minor; twin sister Emmie Shannon; sister and brother-in-law, Britton and Klaus Graefensteiner; niece and nephews, Lori Frank, John Roth, Nolan Adair and Tobias Graefensteiner.

Ellie was born February 27, 1948 in Whittier, Calif. along with her twin, Emmie. Ellie grew up in Escondido, graduating from Orange Glen High School in 1966. She graduated from Long Beach State in 1971. Ellie will be tremendously missed and her legacy will carry on in her honor. Ellie loved life to the fullest; if not rescuing animals, coaching a game, camping or spending time with friends, Ellie was always laughing and helping others. Ellie was quoted as saying, "I believe, if you try to find something good about each day, you will feel better and your outlook on life is uplifted. It is also important to me to tell at least one person each day something good about themselves. This gives me great pleasure."

Ellie fought cancer for the last fifteen years of her life. One of her players said, "We all knew the cancer would get her, but we never really thought it would happen." Ellie Minor loved all sports, however her favorite was field hockey. She coached field hockey at Garden Grove High School from 1974 to 1984. Minor coached at Torrey Pines High School from 1985 to 1987 and then coached at Diegueno Junior High School from 1986 to 2002.

She took over the head coaching position at La Costa Canyon High School from 1998 to 2001. Her team won league championships all four years and the San Diego CIF Championship in 2000. Many of her girls have gone on to play in Division I programs in college.

Ellie Minor was the founding head coach for the RUSH Field Hockey Program, a nationally recognized hockey program that has year-round opportunities for field hockey players. A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday February 14 at The Church of Saint Timothy (2960 Canyon Rd, Escondido).

A reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, suggested donations to either RUSH Field Hockey Education Fund (c/o Kibbee, 681 Sparta Dr., Leucadia, Calif. 92024) or The Emergency Animal Rescue (PO Box 2462, Ramona, Calif. 92065)

Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune on 2/11/2004.