Ellen Powell Bell

Ellen was the third daughter of Elizabeth Baker Powell and Bryan Bonnell Powell, born while her parents, both from New Jersey, were living in Ohio. She grew up in Summit, NJ with her two older sisters, Elizabeth and Alice, and younger siblings Ruth, Stephen and Jean. In 1952 she graduated cum laude from Bryn Mawr College with a B.A, in Geology, followed by a Bachelor of Music degree at Yale in 1955, majoring in the history and theory of music. Afterwards, she joined the U.S. Information Agency (USIA), moving later to the U.S. Information Service (USIS), and finally joining the US Geological Survey (USGS) in 1974, working there until her retirement in 1999.

Ellen was an inveterate and intrepid traveler, working in Dahomey (now Benin) and India, traveling extensively in Africa, India, and parts of the Middle East. In her later years she completed an around-the-world cruise and trips to the Silk Road in Pakistan and China. She had a passion for photography, documenting her adventures with a collection of slides and photos, as well as bringing back many interesting artifacts and souvenirs of her travels, displaying many of them in her homes. This passion for exploration carried through to her work at the USGS, where she designed and drew an impressive 8-sheet map series of East Asia and the Karakoram mountain range.

In 1967 Ellen married Henry Bell III, and not long afterwards, they designed and built a large, airy summer house on a property from Henry’s family on the shore in Mantoloking, New Jersey. “Aunt Ellen” and “Uncle Henry” were always welcoming to their many nieces and nephews who came to the shore regularly for many, many memorable summer vacations. Ellen and Henry shared their love of sailing, taking their young guests out sailing, showing them how to operate the gear and teaching them how to sail. They were always supportive and patient, even when it meant driving to Bay Head for the early morning (or late night) train, or putting up with the antics of teenagers running wild. Ellen and Henry’s generosity with their time and their home encouraged two generations of Bell and Powell cousins from all parts of the world to meet and form lasting relationships

Ellen’s other interests included music, books, and languages. Her CV lists a knowledge of Latin, German, Spanish, French, Hindi and Urdu. She was an accomplished pianist, and kept cabinets of sheet music and her grand piano, even after moving in to her cottage at The Quadrangle in Haverford, PA.

Ellen was well known in the Quadrangle, where she spent the last decades of her life doing what she loved – organizing art shows, classical music concerts and other activities. As she grew older, her grand piano was downsized for a smaller keyboard, but she continued to play the piano as long as she lived. Her love for classical music remained strong, and Ellen delighted in identifying the name of the piece she was listening to as well as the instrument playing.

Ellen touched many lives in her 96 years. The summers at Mantoloking made a lasting impression on the nieces and nephews who spent time there. Her enthusiasm and passion instilled a love for music, sailing, family, travel and adventure on the two generations that spent time at the beach with “Aunt Ellen”.

Ellen died peacefully on October 29, 2026 at Bryn Mawr Hospital, predeceased by her husband, Henry Bell III, in 1989, and 4 of her siblings: Elizabeth, Ruth, Stephen, and Jean. She is survived by her older sister, Alice as well as 22 nephews and nieces and many grandnieces and nephews.