Ellen Elizabeth McKnight

Background

Ellen Elizabeth McKnight was born in 1919 to Herman and Kathryn Gietz in Castleton On Hudson, NY. She graduated from Castleton High School and attended St. Luke's School of Nursing in New York City. After graduation, she served in the US Army as a nurse, stationed in Puerto Rico and Atlantic City, tending to the wounded GIs in WWII. While stationed in Puerto Rico she me and married Nevin Schack. He was shipped out to the European front and was captured by Nazi forces. He was killed by friendly fire during a bombing raid. Following the war, she took a nursing job with a construction firm working on the rebuilding of Okinawa. She lived for a brief time after that in Toledo, and then re-enlisted in the Army. She was stationed in Killeen, Texas, when she met James McKnight. Following their marriage, she resigned her commission. Together, they had five sons, and retired to Castleton, NY in 1961.

Education

Graduated from Castleton High School and St. Luke's School of Nursing

Politics

Ellen is an early feminist, although she has never self-identified as such.

Ellen has been pro-choice since her early career days working for a physician in Manhattan. She developed a strong belief in the need for safe and legal abortion after assisting the physician to treat women who had been mutilated by illegal abortionists. She strongly objected to 'old white men making decisions about what women can do with their bodies'.

Membership

Trinity Lutheran Church, lifelong member

Castleton Study Club 1962-present

Interests

• Birdwatching, played banjo in her youth, learned to play the organ after the death of her husband

• Music & Bands

  Classical

Connections

Twice widowed, five sons

Father:

Herman F. Gietz

Mother:

Kathryn Landmann Gietz

Made incredible sugar and spice cookies

husband:

James D. McKnight

Served in the Military Police

Son:

David B. McKnight

Born Ft. Hood, TX 1952

Attended Maple Hill High School, Ohio Northern University

Son:

Douglas S. McKnight

Born Ft. Dix, NJ 1952

Attended Maple Hill High School, SUNY Oswego and the College of St. Rose

Son:

Colin D. McKnight

Born Ft. Belvoir, Virginia 1954

Attended Maple Hill High School, Hudson Valley Community College, College of St. Rose

Son:

Stuart C. McKnight

Born Abileen Proving Ground, MD 1958

Attended Maple Hill High School, Hudson Valley Community College

Son:

Donald K. McKnight

Born Abilene Proving Ground, MD 1959

Attended Maple Hill High School, SUNY Oswego

granddaughter :

Erin L. Daly

Attended Maple Hill High School and Siena College

granddaughter :

Emily N. McKnight

Attended Maple Hill High School, the University at Buffalo, and the University at Albany

Sister:

Winfred Gietz

Born 1923 in Castleton, NY

Attended Castleton High School.

Worked for Ft. Orange Paper Company and New York State Department of Social Services.

Grandson:

Adam P. McKnight

Attended Maple Hill High School and Clarkson University

Grandson:

Scott James McKnight

Grandson:

Matthew M. McKnight

Grandson:

Nicholas J. McKnight

Grandson:

Ryan McKnight

Grandson:

Trevor McKnight

Brother:

Harold Gietz

Pastored churches in Chatham, NY, Cliffside, NJ, and Trenton, NJ. Retired from Advent Lutheran Church, Trenton, NJ

sister-in-law:

Rosalie Gietz

great grandson:

Landon Daly

great granddaughter:

Ella M. Daly

Daughter-in-law:

Darlene McKnight

Daughter-in-law:

Sandra McKnight

Daughter-in-law:

Dianne McKnight

Daughter-in-law:

Patricia McKnight

husband:

Nevin Schack

Killed in World War II

Billings:

Lillian

Friend:

Patricia Paulsen

Friend:

Corinne Carlson