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BORN
1941
DIED
2021
Ellen Lary Obituary
Ellen Jane
(Schauer) Lary
December 22, 1941
June 9, 2021
Ellen Jane Lary, beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and friend,
passed away on June 9, 2021.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Art and Mary Schauer, and her
brother, Douglas Schauer. She is survived by her brother, Bill Schauer,
sister, Cecily Havens, her husband, Richard Lary, her children, David
Oliver and Susan Oliver Kiley, and her daughter-in-law, Melanie Oliver,
as well as four grandchildren, Ryan and Sara Oliver and Isabella
and Maggie Kiley.
Ellen was born in Buffalo, New York in December 1941. She was the oldest of
four siblings and a student athlete in high school. She graduated from the
University of Michigan with a degree in Education and spent several
years as a teacher in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Syracuse, New York as a young
mother of two. When her first marriage ended, she decided to pursue an
advanced degree in engineering at a time when that was not a career
path pursued by many women. She earned a PhD in Industrial Engineering/
Operations Research from Syracuse University, specializing in computer
databases, all the while raising her two children as a divorced, single
woman. She was employed as a researcher by Bell Laboratories in Holmdel,
New Jersey, then moved to Colorado Springs in 1981 to lead an Advanced
Database Development group at Digital Equipment Corporation, where she
met her husband, Richard. She discovered she had a knack for engineering
and business management, in time rising to become Vice President of
Digital's Storage Division, responsible for 700 employees, and growing
business revenue from $1.2 billion per year to $1.8 billion per year in
an 18-month period. She continued as a Vice President at Compaq Computer
Corporation, which acquired Digital, for one year before leaving to
become an industry consultant in the computer storage industry. All the
while, she remained closely connected to her children and grandchildren
and was the "glue" for her extended family, inviting nieces and nephews
to Colorado for skiing.
She will be remembered as an extraordinary friend and mentor to those
she encountered in her life, which included her Puli community and her
art community, having become a potter in her later years, but her true
passion in life was her family. She has been missed every day since she
left this earth and will be missed into the distant future.
A Celebration of Life for Ellen Lary will be held at the Antler's Hotel (4 S Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903) on Saturday, August 14th at 1:00 pm.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Ellen Lary
Barbara Friedman
July 30, 2025
Ellen was a kind and sincere person. I was blessed to have known her.
Johann-Christoph Freytag
April 23, 2023
Ellen Lary hired me in the fall of 1989 (and starting January 1990) as the manager of the database research group in Munich which I led for 3 1/2 years. I got to know to Ellen during my first six months on my new job when I visited the group in Colorado Springs to get acquainted with the company and the organization. We shared the same vision and the same goals - Ellen helped me to grow on the job and to be successful in Munich once I returned.
Thank you Ellen for all you gave me during the years of cooperation and friendship.
It's too bad that I only found out now about Ellen passing away.
Manfred Koethe
March 10, 2022
I have been on Ellen's team at Database Research Munich, a time in my life at Digital Equipment of which I love every minute. Thank you, Ellen for your friendship and leadership. Sadly, I cannot t meet you again, but I will remember you and your husband Richy forever.
Tom and Valerie Burniece
August 13, 2021
I (Tom) first met Ellen, when Barry Rubinson, Mike Riggle and I agreed to hire her as the right person to start an Advanced Database group for DEC in Colorado Springs. She did a outstanding job forming that group and later went on to be the VP of Storage at DEC. What a marvelous and talented woman she was and, of course, she also became the love of Richie Lary's life and a great step-father and step-grandfather to her children . She will greatly missed by all who knew her, especially my wife, Valerie, who shared many of Ellen's attributes and they related with each other very well. I did do an video-recorded oral history of Ellen for the Computer History Museum, which I hope to have published in text and also available for viewing soon. In the meantime, our deepest condolences to Richie and Ellen's family. May she rest in eternal peace ....
Mark, Diane, Julia, Eric Mrozek
August 13, 2021
Ellen let Diane and I into her life and family and the memories of the great times and off the hook fun are an indelible part of our lives.
I will work to remember all the smiles and hugs. Perhaps the collective memories we share will enfold you in the comfort we all wish we could give.
Sharon Lewis
August 10, 2021
It is an honor to have known Ellen. I will always hold her as a positive, truly caring friend wherever she showed up, whether in the work place, at a social gathering or in
a conversation. Deep condolences to Richy and Ellen´s family
Liz Wilcox
August 9, 2021
Very sorry to hear of your loss. I knew Ellen from the Database group at DEC when I did support. What an AMAZING person. May she Rest In Peace.
Barbara Erlich L. Friedman
August 7, 2021
I am so very sorry for your loss. Ellen was a wonderful person, always caring and fun to be around. May you have many wonderful memories of your life together. With deepest sympathies.
Barbara B. E. L. Friedman
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