NAPLES, Fla., and EASTPORT – Ellen Jacobson Loring, 87, died Dec. 11, 2010, at her home in Naples, Fla., after a long illness. She was born July 11, 1923, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and immigrated to the U.S. with her parents in 1939. She was predeceased by her parents, Henriette and Joseph Jacobson of Paris and New York City; her husband, Allison Loring, formerly of Brooklyn, N.Y., Eastport, Southport and Naples, Fla.; and her son, Roland Loring. Together with Ellen’s parents, Allison and Ellen built Argenta Products Co., Eastport, and New Jersey, which manufactured pearlescence, also known as “pearl essence.” During her life in Eastport, Ellen served on numerous boards for education and health facilities. Ellen was also an artist specializing in textile and stenciling. She was a member of American Decorative Art Society and today her work can be viewed at the University of Maine, Orono. In Naples, Fla., she opened one of the first needlepoint shops, Outlook Too, where she shared her love of textiles with young and old. Ellen and her late husband, Allison, gave many scholarships to students from Maine in order to help them continue their studies in the arts at the University of Maine. Ellen and Allison also supported the symphony and hospital in Naples, Fla. Ellen will be remembered for her sophistication, elegance and loyalty. She was a loving mother, wife, daughter and grandmother. She leaves her cherished daughter, Joan and son-in-law, Bill Alfond, of Boston; and three loving grandchildren, state Sen. Justin Alfond and his wife, Rachael, of Portland; Kenden Alfond and her husband, Charles Vincent, and great-granddaughter, Ya?l Chava, of Geneva; and Reis Alfond and his wife, Stefanie Alfond, of New York City. Funeral services will be held noon Thursday, Dec. 16, at Beth Israel Cemetery, Bangor. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Loring/Jacobson Scholarship, University of Maine Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469-5792 or www.umaine foundation.org. A service of Brookings-Smith, Bangor.
ELLEN JACOBSON LORING
