SCARBOROUGH – Elinor "Ellie" Springer died on Sunday, May 7, 2017, at Holbrook Health Center of Piper Shores from endometrial cancer. The daughter of Katherine Louise Cram and Elwin Wesley Avery, Ellie was born in Boston, MA, on May 19, 1934. She grew up in Meredith, NH, and Kennebunk, ME, and graduated from Dean Academy, Bradford Junior College, and the Katharine Gibbs School in Boston. Ellie worked as a secretary and proofreader at Reader's Digest, IBM corporate headquarters, and the University of Southern Maine. Ellie is survived by her husband Meredith "Dick" Springer, whom she married on February 14, 1985, daughter Amy Etzweiler of Brunswick, daughter Sharon Etzweiler Kang and her husband Peter Kang of Cape Elizabeth, step-son Russell Springer of Newton, MA, and seven grandchildren. She was predeceased by her sister Katherine Hitchcock Farrar. After her semi-retirement to Peaks Island in 1994, Ellie served for several years on the board of the Peaks Island Health Center. In 1997 she became a literacy volunteer, in 2001 became a hospice volunteer, and regularly participated in peace vigils with Women in Black. She developed a passionate interest in Reiki healing and became a Reiki therapy volunteer at Maine Medical Center. In 2011 she and Dick moved to Piper Shores. She became Chair of the Resident Health and Quality of Life Committee and also was Secretary and then Vice-President of the Resident Council. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. If desired, contributions may be made in Ellie's memory to the Piper Shores Memorial Fund, 15 Piper Road, Scarborough, ME 04074 or to Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 US Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.