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Ellsworth Rainsford Littler, 90, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 27, 2017, in the Alpena home he designed and built. Known to many as "Bud" or "Doc," he was an avid sailor, handyman, outdoorsman, and a respected physician.
Ellsworth R. Littler Jr., was born April 15, 1927, in Tarrytown, N.Y., to Ellsworth R. Littler Sr., and Eleanor (Benedict) Littler. He and his father were both named for the first Union officer killed in the American Civil War. His great-grandfather, Col. Robert McCandless Littler, distinguished himself at the Battle of Shiloh in the Civil War where he lost an arm.
Dr. Littler grew up in Westchester County, N.Y., and graduated from The Choate School in Wallingford, Conn., in 1944 and from Yale University in 1955. In 1945, he enlisted and served in the U.S. Navy with the rank of Seaman 1st class until his honorable discharge in 1946.
He graduated with honors from McGill College of Medicine in Montreal in 1959. In Montreal, he also met and married his wife, Elizabeth Anne Neelands of Haileybury, Ontario. They celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary last May.
Dr. Littler completed his pathology residency at University Hospital in Ann Arbor in 1964. He joined the faculty of the university and was promoted to associate professor. He practiced pathology at the University of Michigan and at Wayne County Hospital. In 1977, he took a position at Alpena General Hospital, where he worked until his retirement in 1991.
Dr. Littler loved hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and sailing with family, friends and solo. He hiked all 46 peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. He also enjoyed coaching hockey and playing in adult hockey leagues. He was a great reader and music lover.
He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Anne (Neelands) Littler; sister Patricia Benedict (William) Dresser of Medina, Ohio; three daughters, Erica Susan (Brian) Rowe of San Diego, Calif., Heather Ann (Dan) Bushnell of St. Augustine, Fla., and Macgregor Allyn (Alex) Montano of Woodstock, Vt.; and six grandchildren.
A celebration of Dr. Littler's life will take place Friday, June 2, 2017, at McWilliams Funeral Home (504 W. Washington Ave., Alpena) from 2-6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army or the Adirondack 46R Conservation Trust. Online condolences may be registered at www.mcwilliamsfh.com.