Nancy Walker Bush Ellis
Encyclopedia
Nancy Walker Bush Ellis is the only sister
of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush
and aunt of former President George W. Bush
and the former Governor of Florida John Ellis "Jeb" Bush. Her parents were Prescott Sheldon Bush (1895–1972) and Dorothy Walker
(1901–1992). Media consultant John Prescott Ellis
is one of her four children. She is widowed and lives in Boston
.
in 1946. On October 26, 1946, at St. Paul's Church, in Greenwich, Connecticut
, Nancy Bush married Alexander B. Ellis II (1922–1989), an executive with insurance firm Fairfield & Ellis (which merged into Corroon & Black, now a part of Willis Group Holdings
Ltd.). Wedding guests included James Buckley
, John V. Lindsay, John Chafee
and Nancy's brother George; Office of Strategic Services
agent William B. Macomber, Jr.
was best man. She had weekly lunches with her nephew George W. Bush
while he attended Harvard School of Business.
Nancy and Alexander Ellis had a daughter Nancy and three sons, Alexander, John
and Josiah.
and an environmentalist who actively fundraised
for the NAACP
and co-chaired the New England section of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund
, she joined the Republican Party
in 1988 when her brother
ran for the presidency. In September 2004 she visited London
, Paris
and Frankfurt
on behalf of Republicans Abroad
in an effort to encourage United States
Republicans
living in Europe
to register and vote for that year's general election
.
, the Boston Symphony Orchestra
and the New England Conservatory of Music
As a board member of the Massachusetts Audubon Society
, a group that has been critical of the Bush administration's widespread encouragement of industry self-regulation, Ellis led fundraising efforts to establish Belize
's Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area
and the environmental conservation program Programme for Belize
. She is also a member of the nongovernmental organization Pact.
Bush family
The Bush family is a prominent American family. Along with many members who have been successful bankers and businessmen, across three generations the family includes two U.S. Senators, one Supreme Court Justice, two Governors, one Vice President and two Presidents...
of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
and aunt of former President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and the former Governor of Florida John Ellis "Jeb" Bush. Her parents were Prescott Sheldon Bush (1895–1972) and Dorothy Walker
Dorothy Walker Bush
Dorothy Wear Walker Bush , mother to 41st President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, and the grandmother of 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. Time on her death wrote that "George Bush was shaped and tempered by his mother's nature." Dorothy Bush raised her five children...
(1901–1992). Media consultant John Prescott Ellis
John Prescott Ellis
John Prescott Ellis , formerly an American journalist and media consultant, and now a partner in the venture-capital firm Sand Hills Partners. He is a nephew of former President of the United States George H.W. Bush and a first cousin of former President George W...
is one of her four children. She is widowed and lives in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.
Biography
She graduated from Vassar CollegeVassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in 1946. On October 26, 1946, at St. Paul's Church, in Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
, Nancy Bush married Alexander B. Ellis II (1922–1989), an executive with insurance firm Fairfield & Ellis (which merged into Corroon & Black, now a part of Willis Group Holdings
Willis Group Holdings
Willis Group Holdings is a global insurance broker headquartered in the Willis Building, London, United Kingdom. It has more than 400 offices in 120 countries, and approximately 17,000 employees...
Ltd.). Wedding guests included James Buckley
James Buckley
James Buckley may refer to:* James Buckley , English actor who stars in The Inbetweeners* James Buckley , Roman Catholic bishop of Geras...
, John V. Lindsay, John Chafee
John Chafee
John Lester Hubbard Chafee was an American politician. He served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, as the 66th Governor of Rhode Island, as the Secretary of the Navy, and as a United States Senator.-Early life and family:...
and Nancy's brother George; Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
agent William B. Macomber, Jr.
William B. Macomber, Jr.
William Butts Macomber, Jr. was an official in the United States Department of State and a United States diplomat who later became the first full-time president of the Museum of Modern Art.- Early life :...
was best man. She had weekly lunches with her nephew George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
while he attended Harvard School of Business.
Nancy and Alexander Ellis had a daughter Nancy and three sons, Alexander, John
John Prescott Ellis
John Prescott Ellis , formerly an American journalist and media consultant, and now a partner in the venture-capital firm Sand Hills Partners. He is a nephew of former President of the United States George H.W. Bush and a first cousin of former President George W...
and Josiah.
Political activities
Although she had been a Liberal DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and an environmentalist who actively fundraised
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
for the NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
and co-chaired the New England section of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. is a leading United States civil rights organization and law firm based in New York City....
, she joined the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in 1988 when her brother
Bush family
The Bush family is a prominent American family. Along with many members who have been successful bankers and businessmen, across three generations the family includes two U.S. Senators, one Supreme Court Justice, two Governors, one Vice President and two Presidents...
ran for the presidency. In September 2004 she visited London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
on behalf of Republicans Abroad
Republicans Abroad
Republicans Abroad is an organisation for members of the Republican Party who are living outside of the United States. Unlike Democrats Abroad, Republicans Abroad is not considered a "state committee" by the Republican National Committee...
in an effort to encourage United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
living in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to register and vote for that year's general election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
.
Volunteer and charitable activities
Nancy Bush-Ellis has long volunteered with the Boston United South End Settlement House, of which she is an honorary director. She has also volunteered with the New England Medical CenterTufts Medical Center
Tufts Medical Center is a medical institution in Boston, Massachusetts occupying space between Chinatown and the Theater District....
, the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
and the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
As a board member of the Massachusetts Audubon Society
Massachusetts Audubon Society
The Massachusetts Audubon Society, founded in 1896 by Harriet Hemenway and headquartered in Lincoln, Massachusetts, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to "Protecting the nature of Massachusetts." Mass Audubon is independent of the National Audubon Society, and in fact was founded...
, a group that has been critical of the Bush administration's widespread encouragement of industry self-regulation, Ellis led fundraising efforts to establish Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
's Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area
Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area
Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area is a nature reserve located in northwestern Belize. Rio Bravo, as it is known, was established by Programme for Belize in 1988 with the purchase of 110,044 acres of land from Gallon Jug Agroindustries. With logging encroachment imminent in 1989, the...
and the environmental conservation program Programme for Belize
Programme for Belize
The Programme for Belize is the first project undertaken by the World Land Trust, in 1989. The goal of the project was to purchase and protect tropical rainforests in Belize to save them from exploitation like over-logging. The project was initiated by a fundraiser held in the London Butterfly...
. She is also a member of the nongovernmental organization Pact.