For over 50 years, Eloise's unselfish and untiring volunteer involvement has made a difference in the quality of life for literally thousands of people. Her biography of leadership and service to others is very impressive.  

Eloise was born and raised in Indiana where she graduated from the Bloomington Hospital School of Nursing, which is now a part of Indiana University   During World War II she served in Europe as an Army First Lieutenant and was eventually assigned to an evacuation hospital in Germany.  While many events affected her deeply, one of her most sobering was when her medical unit was taken to the concentration camp at Buchenwald after the prisoners had been freed.  There she was able to view and document the atrocities that occurred there:  the crematoriums which had been in use, the piles of bodies, along with other horrific scenes.  After the war, Eloise came to Los Angeles where she met and married her husband Howard.  Over the next few years they had 2 daughters – Lisa and Suzanne, and while Howard practiced law, Eloise began what has become a lifetime of service to the community.

Her many activities have included:  President of Town of Gown of USC 1992-1994 and Benefit Co-Chair twice, President & also Ball Chairman of National Charity League, President of Bookworms of Assistance League of LA, President of Pinafores of the League for Crippled Children, President of Woman’s Committee of the LA Philharmonic, President of Westwood Village Rotary Club Auxiliary, President of Mother’s Club of Westlake School for Girls, and Sunday School Teacher at Westwood United Methodist Church.  In addition to continued support in all of the above, she is an avid follower of USC football.

In a Memorial Day speech in 2000, Eloise made the following remarks.  “We live in a more cynical age today. Some are embarrassed by expressions of patriotism. But I for one thank God I am an American, was a registered nurse who served her country and married a man who served in the infantry, was wounded, and loved his country.  What did I learn from these experiences? I think I was too young to have answered that then but later I think my philosophy was partially molded from those three years in the service. And that is: the importance of home, family, and our faith in God. The fundamental principles of morality and the enormity of the experiences is something never to be forgotten. Perhaps as Dr. Albert Schweitzer said - the purpose of life is to serve, to show compassion and to be willing to help others.”

For her vision, compassion and giving nature, we are truly grateful; Eloise is one of our own.