Mary Ellen (“Mel”) Ellwood passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, May 7, 2026, after suffering a sudden illness.
A proud North Fork native, she was born and raised in Riverhead and was the oldest of nine children.
Mary Ellen was an associate broker with Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Cutchogue, serving Riverhead and the surrounding North Fork communities, including Jamesport, Southold, and neighboring hamlets. She began her real estate career in 2005 and went on to assist many long-term and new Suffolk residents throughout Riverhead and Southold Towns housing needs.
She graduated from the University of Dayton in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. After graduation, Mary Ellen spent 18 years in Manhattan working in the public relations industry, first as a PR executive and later as a Director of Human Resources. In her PR work, she coordinated campaigns with advertising, direct mail, and sales promotion teams for U.S. Army recruiting; wrote newsletters and press materials; and created trade show displays, video news releases, and special event programs. Her clients included the U.S. Army, Fisher-Price, Wyeth-Ayerst, Sears, New York Telephone, Owens-Corning, and American Greeting Cards.
Mary Ellen was a devoted and energetic member of the Rotary Club of Riverhead for more than 18 years. She served as a past president and as a district governor, and she played a significant leadership role in many of the club’s community initiatives. She also served as coordinator of the Riverhead Country Fair, was a member of the board of directors for Riverhead Townscape and was the President of the North Fork Chapter of the Long Island Board of Realtors (LIBOR).
An active presence in the arts and her local parish, Mary Ellen had been a member of the choir at St. John the Evangelist of Riverhead, St. Rosalie’s Church in Hampton Bays, and with the Peconic Bay Masterworks Choir. She also volunteered at the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead, where she guided tours during open houses and served as an usher for public events.
In her free time, Mel loved being with her family, especially her siblings; Kevin, Liz, Paul, Lee Patrick, Stephen, Susan, and Brian, her “Outlaws” Dorothy (“Dot”), Jessica, Lori, Lisa, Jim, and Brie, and her 21 nieces and nephews. She was also devoted to and loved her Aunt Elizabeth (“Betsy”) Comer O’Neill. Mel is predeceased by her brother Christian, and her brother-in law Greg Burns.
Mel was an extraordinary comfort and support to her parents Lee and Eileen, always offering her time, strength, and unwavering devotion with great love. She will be dearly missed by her family, and the community.
Visitation will take place Thursday, May 14, from 4 to 8 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home, 336 Marcy Avenue, Riverhead, NY A funeral Mass will be held Friday, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church in Riverhead, followed by private cremation. Memorial donations may be made to the Rotary Club of Riverhead, PO Box 141, Jamesport, NY 11947.
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