Ellis Ab Joseph, Sr

Dr. Ellis Ab Joseph died on November 2, 2018, All Souls Day, surrounded by his family. He is preceded in death by his father, Ab Joseph and his mother Marie Dow Joseph. He is survived by Guitta Joseph, his dear wife of 58 years, his children, Ellis Jr, Laurice, and Paula Joseph, and his sister Rose Joseph.

Born in Windsor, NC on May 16, 1933, he was the oldest of two children.

He received his B. A (cum laude), M.A., and Ph.d degrees from the University of Notre Dame where he was a Ford Foundation Scholar. He concentrated on educational leadership and philosophy of education. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the College of Mt. St. Joseph. He was most devoted to his faculty and students who were in the top ten per cent of undergraduates who subsequently earned their doctoral degrees, according to the National Research Council. He was awarded the University of Dayton Lackner Award for his allegiance to the Marianist heritage. He was named Professor of the Year by the University of Dayton. Ellis Joseph chaired the Department of Secondary Education for eight years, was acting dean, and in l973 became dean of the School of Education, a position he held for 22 years. He came to the University in l961 and served for 37 years. In that time he won U.S. Office of Education grants for master's programs in chemistry education and in English education, fully supporting l6 graduate students. He served as president of the Southwest Ohio Education Research Council where he helped secure a $5oo,ooo grant from the U.S. Office of Education which created master's programs in educational research at U.D. and area universities. He was chair of the Ohio Teacher Education and Certification Advisory Commission, president of the Ohio Association of Counselor Educators, and president of the Ohio Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. He served on the specialty area studies board of the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. Ellis Joseph was an advocate for teachers and the teaching profession for which he was honored by the Western Ohio Education Association Friend of Education Award. Students with disabilities were always special to him. For over 30 years he chaired the Ohio Dept. of Education Dean's Task Force for Preparing Personnel for the Handicapped. He never stopped believing in the mission of the Dayton Public Schools and never refused any request they made. He was most proud that he and his colleagues were able to initiate the Ph.D program in educational leadership at the University. He taught each term during his 37 years at the University. He co-authored or authored seven books and approximately 50 articles. He was a passionate golfer. He competed against his long time friends Punky Williams and James Cox "whom he never defeated." His greatest fulfillment was engaging in activities with his family, particularly at the sea shore.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 8, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Newcomer Funeral Home in Beavercreek, Ohio . Funeral Mass Services will be held at St. Lukes's Catholic Church in Beavercreek, Ohio on Friday, November, 9, 2018 at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ellis Joseph Scholarship at Office of Advancement University of Dayton, 300 College Park, Dayton, Ohio 45469-7052; St. Vincent De Paul Hotel at 124 W Apple St, Dayton, OH 45402 and Hospice of Dayton, Ohio at 324 Wilmington Ave, Dayton, OH 45420.