Obituary of Mary Ellen Allison

Our beloved Mary Ellen Allison, 66, left this earth on February 17th, 2023. She fought thyroid cancer for eleven years and finally succumbedto respiratory complications caused by pneumonia. Mary Ellen was born on April 12, 1956, in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. She attended Harrodsburg High School and Western Kentucky University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Theater and Business with a minor in French. She also got her Masters in Theater there.She taught Stage Management, Directing, etc. at Ramapo College of New Jersey for over 42 years. There she became a tenured professor. She worked as a professional stage manager from Broadway and off-Broadway to regional theatres, and premiers with award-winning theatre artists. She also authored a book called, A Survival Guide for Stage Managers.She taught, encouraged, and gently mentored a generation of theater students who each left her classes feeling a special connection to her. She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Margaret Allison; her sister, Sara Allison; and two brothers, Albert Allison and Richard Allison. She is survived by her loving daughter, Hanna Allison; her brothers, Jim (Elizabeth) Allison and John (Carolyn) Allison; her sister, Beth Minassian; several special nieces and nephews; and special friend, Kaden Woodward. Visitation will be on Thursday, April 20th in Harrodsburg at Ransdell Funeral Chapel, from 5:00 to 7:00. A private family interment ceremony will be held at Springhill Cemetery on Friday, April 21st. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Albert B. and Sara V. Allison Endowed Scholarship at Eastern KY University, Richmond, KY will be appreciated. Arrangements by Ransdell Funeral Chapel, where expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.ransdellfuneralchapel.com.