Long Ellis; Benefactor of Schools, Tennis Hall of Fame

Long Ellis, an investor and benefactor of several schools and the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., has died. He was 78.

Ellis, who had homes in Pasadena and Osterville, Mass., died Monday after suffering a stroke at his Cape Cod summer home.

A Navy lieutenant commander, Ellis won the Purple Heart, Silver Star and other medals for his efforts in the Solomon Islands during World War II. More recently, he served on the board of the Foundation of the Naval War College in Newport.

Ellis was also on the board of the Tennis Hall of Fame and of the Southern California Tennis Assn., for which he ran the Southern California Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament for the last 35 years.

After graduating from Harvard University’s business school, Ellis was an executive with the Long Bell Lumber Co. until it was purchased by International Paper Co.

Ellis is survived by his wife of 51 years, Pauline Wright Ellis; three daughters, Pamela Ellis-Simons of Greenwich, Conn., Sally Ellis Taylor of Washington, D.C., and Pauline Ellis Ramsaur of Palo Alto; his son, Long Ellis Jr. of Darien, Conn.; a sister, Lucia Ellis Uihlein of Lake Bluff, Ill.; and eight grandchildren.