Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Sunday, July 16, 2006 at 05:45:32 :
San Francisco Chronicle
Wednesday, February 13, 2002
A26
ELLIN, Patricia Hinchman -- Died February 8th, 2002 born August 8th, 1919, raised in San Francisco and Redwood City. In the late 1930's she moved back to San Francisco with her mother Edith and sister Joan. She graduated from the California School of Fine Arts where she studied art as well as Interior Architecture and Design. She lived in North Beach in the 1940's at Kearny and Green streets. She was acquainted with well known San Francisco artists, Emmy Lou Packard, Byron Randall, Sargeant Johnson, and Robert McChesney to name a few. Among her many art projects, she helped paint the murals at the Rincon Annex post office in San Francisco. During World War II, Patricia worked at the Bethlehem Steel Company. As a draftsman there, she helped to design the installation of guns on Liberty ships. She also worked as a nursery school teacher on Telegraph Hill. After the war she worked as an interior designer at the City of Paris. In 1948, she met and later married Sydney Phillip Ellin. They were involved in progressive politics. Racial equality, worker's rights, equal justice for all people, and world peace were highly held ideals. The witch hunts of Senator Joseph McCarthy caused Phillip Ellin (a microbiologist ) to be blacklisted. He then fell back to the trade of picture framing that he had learned as a young man in Philadelphia. In 1952, Patricia and Phillip bought the picture framing business on Union street in San Francisco known as "The Artisans". They worked hard and lived in the back of the store with their son, Joe. Patricia's skill as an artist and her friendly nature proved to be invaluable to the success of the business. Hard work and love for each other made the business prosper. An Artisan is a person who works with their hands, brain, and heart. Patricia was an Artisan. In her later years, Patricia moved to the Redwoods in Mill Valley after her husband developed Alzheimer's disease. She made many friends there. Every week she attended the writer's group and wrote many wonderful stories about her life. She became interested in making miniature shadow box rooms. These beautiful rooms are admired by patrons, friends, and family alike. Patricia was a lifelong cigarette smoker. She developed emphysema and congestive heart failure. Her last two years were spent at the Laurel Heights Convalescent Hospital in San Francisco where she received excellent care from the nurses and all the staff. She never lost her keen mind and spent countless hours reading and listening to National Public Radio. She was the loving wife of 50 years to the late Sydney Phillip Ellin. She is survived by her son, Joseph Phillip Ellin and daughter-in-law, Jacqueline Gail Aiken; nephew, Brent Hinchman and wife Sharon Hinchman; niece, Francesca Pera and husband Jeff Pera; niece, Cristina Pera; grand nephew, Aidan , and grand niece, Eliana. Patricia will be remembered for her gracious nature, down-to-earth honesty, curiosity, dignity, and humor. Pat had a gift for making each one of us feel special. Concern for the needs of others were put ahead of her own. The love she had for her family and friends will never be forgotten. Patricia, We Love You. Private family services have been held. Donations in her name can be made to: Habitat for Humanity or Doctors Without Borders Arrangements by The Neptune Society
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