About the Author
Bob Ellis was raised in Christian Science by his mother and stage actress, Katherine Ellis, and by his father James Ellis who had rejected Christian Science, and left the church. He earned a degree in economics from Swarthmore College and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Fresh out of the U. S. Army in 1960, Ellis began his multi-faceted career as a staff writer for the Christian Science Monitor.
His time at the Monitor and his singular religious experiences before and after form the centerpiece of his just released memoir and second book: A Collision of Truths; A Life in Conflict with a Cherished Faith.
With his writing and editing skills honed at the Monitor, Ellis left the newspaper industry and took a position with the US Figure Skating Association as their Executive Secretary and editor of their Skating Magazine.
Bowing to a long-standing interest in new business opportunities, Bob and his wife Barbara entered into a cosmetics franchise venture. They subsequently exited “Holiday Magic Cosmetics” pursuing a choice that would eventually lead to Ellis writing his first book. He joined his father's Harlem, New York City floor covering business. And one day his dad's shocking murder in the store changed everything. He returned to Boston's North Shore, opened and operated a successful flooring business and wrote the home improvement book How to Buy and Install Floor Covering for Scribner's.
A growing attraction to Barbara's family's hospitality business led to Ellis joining her at the Yankee Clipper Inn in Rockport, MA. Their innovative style subsequently brought international acclaim to their oceanfront property. It was during Ellis' 25 years at the inn that he began to consider writing his spiritual memoir in which he would pit his religion's tenets against the physical sciences with surprising results.
Ellis' success and leadership in hospitality, and his championing of the fine and performing arts led to his twice serving as President of the Rockport Chamber of Commerce; a board member of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce; a Board member for the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, the Cape Ann Symphony, New England Inns and Resorts Association – twice State VP, and First Reader (an elected position which carries the responsibility of conducting all church services) at two Christian Science churches.
In 2001 the Ellises sold the YCI and he devoted his entire time to completing his memoir and getting it published. Artist son Jeff, CPA and JD daughter-in-law Magda and two grandchildren, Konrad and Natalia, live nearby. Daughter Carly has her masters in early childhood education, and is about to move to Warsaw, Poland, where she will be teaching kindergarten at an English speaking school.
Today, Bob and Barbara live with their three cats in their contemporary home along the seacoast in the village of Rockport, MA.
