[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 31 (Wednesday, March 12, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E448-E449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MAGNUS ELLEN, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 12, 1997

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention 
the memory of Magnus Ellen, Sr. of Passaic, NJ, who passed away 
recently on February 25, 1997.
  Magnus' life was one of dedication and commitment to the community, 
serving the city of Passaic as its only African-American councilman and 
as a member of the board of the United Passaic Organization, the city's 
branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
People.
  As well as being a community activist, Magnus also served the 
community as deacon of St. Paul Baptist Church, and as chairman of the 
board of directors at St. Paul Baptist Church for two decades. Through 
his involvement in the community, Deacon Ellen--as he was 
affectionately known--led several city-wide improvement campaigns which 
included an antilitter program that saw the participation of hundreds 
of residents and students picking up trash from the city's streets 
while city officials were debating the management of the program.
  A giving and honest man, Deacon Ellen never turned away those in need 
of help and even unofficially adopted two young musicians from St. Paul 
Baptist Church, who were members of the Inspirational Choir, a program 
organized by Deacon Ellen. Another popular church program begun by 
Deacon Ellen is the annually celebrated, Youth Day.
  In addition to being a community activist and a man of God, Deacon 
Ellen was also a traveler who counted as one of his greatest personal 
achievements, a trip made to Jerusalem nearly two decades ago.
  Deacon Ellen and his wife, Christine, who passed away 4 years ago, 
had raised a loving family of five children including Magnus, Jr., a 
retired Passaic detective, and Carl, owner of the Ellen Agency, his 
insurance company.
  Deacon Ellen was planning to remarry on August 2, of this year to his 
fiancee, Loretta Bradley.
  Surviving Deacon Ellen are his five children, a sister living in 
Chicago, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, Deacon Ellen's 
fiancee Loretta, his

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family, and the city of Passaic in remembering Deacon Magnus Ellen, 
Sr., and his many invaluable contributions to the community.

                          ____________________