United Way Announces 2011 Alexis de Tocqueville Society, Herbert H. Pearce Award

On a beautiful fall evening on October 5th, nearly 200 people gathered at The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library to honor Frank Turner and Ellen Tillotson, and to recognize Yale University donors for their outstanding leadership in the Greater New Haven community.

It was fitting that an event to thank donors for their generosity to United Way and to the common good was held at Yale's Beinecke Library. Several original de Tocqueville manuscripts are part of the Beinecke's impressive literary collection and were on display for guests. President Rick Levin welcomed guests, and spoke about Alexis de Tocqueville, his insightful observations about America, and the strong partnership between Yale University and United Way of Greater New Haven.

Yale University has a long history of generosity to United Way. This past year, 235 Yale faculty and staff were leadership-level donors, contributing $1000 or more to United Way. Over the past 10 years Yale de Tocqueville donors have given $2.5 million to United Way of Greater New Haven to advance the common good and to create change in our community. Yale continues to be a leading institutional partner in United Way’s work in the community.

United Way presented the 2011 Alexis de Tocqueville Society Herbert H. Pearce Award to Frank Turner, who passed away quite unexpectedly almost a year ago, and his wife Ellen Tillotson. Frank and Ellen are humble philanthropists, civic leaders and humanitarians. Their shared value to be a good citizens and give back to others was the foundation of their relationship and ultimately their marriage in the summer of 1999. Through their tremendous passion and enthusiasm for education and mentoring, they have touched the lives of many. Just by virtue of who they are, they model what it is to be a caring neighbor and involved citizen.

Whether as a University Provost, Librarian, Professor, author, publisher, husband, uncle, brother or friend, Frank was always a distinguished scholar and gentleman whose passion for helping others was evident in everything he did. Frank was also an enthusiastic de Tocqueville expert who lived out his concern for the well-being of his community through acts of kindness and philanthropic generosity.

Ellen began her career at the Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green as the assistant minister, where she met Frank. Ellen then became the Lead Reverend at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Torrington. Ellen and Frank created deep roots in the communities in which they were involved, including Torrington, New Haven and Guilford. With her strong sense of church and community, Ellen became a member and eventually President of the Torrington Rotary Club. She received the 2003-2004 Paul Harris Fellow Award, one of the highest honors in Rotary.

United Way is grateful for the contributions Ellen and Frank have made to our community and for the examples they have given us as philanthropists, community leaders and advocates.