Ellen B. Wisser, 92, Died; Moved to Westport in 1960, ”defeated unbeatable odds”
Ellen B. Wisser, age 92 of Norwalk, CT (formerly of Westport) passed away this Friday, September 16, 2022, at Norwalk Hospital. Mrs. Wisser was born in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of the late Samuel and Esther Borenstein. She attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts along with classmates and friends Grace Kelly and Vince Edwards. She then attended Brooklyn College where she met her future husband and lifetime love, Allen Wisser, who himself attended Brooklyn College after performing with the Broadway show Showboat’s National Tour, having initially attended Julliard. Upon marrying, Ellen and Allen moved to Indianapolis where Allen served in the Army during the Korean War. After the war they returned to Brooklyn, where Ellen taught at James Madison High School while Allen attended Brooklyn Law, and began his lifetime career in real estate.
Ellen and Allen moved their young family to Westport, CT in 1960. Ellen continued commuting to Brooklyn, then began teaching at Harding High School in Bridgeport, CT, teaching English, Speech and Drama, where she also produced and directed the annual school play, influencing the lives of so many teachers and students, some of whom continued to stay in touch for decades. Ellen was a political activist in the Bridgeport and Connecticut Educational Associations, as well as nationally within the National Education Association, where she ran for the NEA Presidency in 1976. She was an advocate of the Women’s Liberation Movement at both local and national levels. Ellen changed careers in her 50’s, attending Bridgeport Law (now the Quinnipiac School of Law), following which she practiced Family and Worker’s Compensation Law until age 88. Ellen recently survived 3 different types of cancer, forcing her retirement, and defeated unbeatable odds, until now.
Mrs. Wisser was predeceased by her beloved husband, Allen Wisser, who succumbed to melanoma in 2008, and is survived by her devoted children, Dr. Jamie R. Wisser and his wife Natalie, Atty. Kerry M. Wisser and his wife Debbie, R. Ilise Gold and her long-time companion Fritz Heilbron, adored grandchildren, Davin Gold, Alanna Dayton and her husband Greg, Evan Wisser and his wife Jessica, Caitlyn Wisser, Ryan Wisser, Leah Wisser and her husband Manuel Reinert, as well as her cherished great grandchildren, Jack, Sam & Beck Dayton, Claire & Penelope Wisser, her sister-in-law Gladys Floch and her husband Dr. Martin Floch, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Mrs. Wisser was predeceased by her beloved husband Allen Wisser, cherished grandson Tyler Wisser, and dear brother, Marvin Borenstein and his wife Laurie.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 1:00 PM at The Abraham L. Green and Son Funeral Home, 88 Beach Road, Fairfield, CT, 06824, with interment following at Temple Israel Cemetery on Richards Avenue in Norwalk. People are asked to begin gathering at the Funeral Home at 12:30 PM.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Connecticut Education Foundation – Children’s Fund, (Connecticut Education Foundation – Connecticut Education Association (cea.org).