Eleanor Zelliot, 89, died peacefully at her home on the Cannon River, in Randolph, MN, surrounded by family and friends, on June 5, 2016. CVFM will hold a Memorial Meeting for Worship on Saturday June 18, 2016 at 2:00. Website:https://www.quakercloud.org/cloud/cannon-valley-friends-meetingfor directions. Attenders are invited to stay forlight potluck refreshments afterward.
Though Eleanor disliked the word “passed” when referring to death, she indeed passed through our lives like the light reflecting/playing on her vigorous stream of life. Her friends and Friends will miss her very much.
Eleanor Mae Zelliot was born October 2, 1926 in Des Moines, Iowa to Ernest Zelliot and Minnie Hadley Zelliot. She and her older sister Carolyn grew up in Des Moines, Boston and Denver. She attended William Penn College, Oskaloosa, IA graduating in 1948. She attended Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA awarded with a MA in history in 1949.
After that Eleanor worked for Friends United Meeting in Richmond, IN. While working for FUM, she was the Quaker delegate to Third World Conference of Christian Youth in India in 1952. She was impressed with the country’s complex, colorful and open society. Later, in 1955, she traveled to the USSR, and found that she preferred the atmosphere of India.
Eleanor then returned to Iowa to care for her mother in her later days. Following her mother’s death, she worked at the Scattergood Friends School in Cedar Rapids, IA for a few years, serving as a teacher and in other roles. Then she studied at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, where she earned a PhD in South Asian Regional Studies. After this, she returned to the Midwest, teaching at the University of Minnesota, 1966-69 and then at Carleton College, Northfield MN from 1969 until her retirement in 1997. Eleanor was one of the foremost international experts on the history of the Dalits (Untouchables) and their leader, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Through her extensive writing and speaking in India, the US, and Europe, she helped to connect the Dalit Movement to other movements against oppression. Although she claimed she didn't "do religion," she wrote beautifully about the saint-poets of Maharashtra, as well as the importance of Buddhism in the lives of the Dalits.She studied B.R. Ambedkar, the leader of the untouchables in the late 1920s. She wrote a book, Dr. Babsaheb Ambedkar and the Untouchable Movementas well many articles about Dr. Ambedkar and his movement. She was awarded the 1999Award for Distinguished Contributions to Asian Studies (asian-studies.org/Grants-and-Awards/Distinguished-Contributions). She developed an ACM (Associated Colleges of the Midwest) program in India and led it for many years.
While her professional life was impressive, her strength and joy came from her students and the relationships she forged while preparing Indian meals at her house. She traveled widely including well into retirement and continued to write up until her last year.
Eleanor was a birthright Friend and valued this part of her life. Her social justice commitment and interest in the Dalits were influenced by her Quaker heritage. She started a Meeting for Worship when she began teaching at Carleton College, and this later merged with another worship group to become Cannon Valley Friends Meeting. For years she was an organizing force and chief cookat People Camp (AFSC/FNVW annual event).
After retirement Eleanor loved reading, watching the wildlife, flowers and birds at her home on the bank of the Cannon River outside of Northfield. It was a retreat for all who ventured to visit her.
Eleanor is survived by two nephews, a niece, their families, and many close friends near and far.
AMemorial Meeting for Worshipin the manner of Friends will be held on Saturday,June 18th, at2pm, at the Cannon Valley Friends Meeting House (512 Washington St., Northfield).Also a memorial service for Eleanor will be held on Friday,June 17th, at9am, at the CarletonChapel. Contributions in Eleanor’s honor may go to Cannon Valley Friends quakercloud.org/cloud/cannon-valley-friends-meeting or Friends for a Nonviolent World fnvw.org.