Dr. Phillip P. Ellis, MD

Dr. Ellis, 102, died on July 20, 2026. He was born on October 30, 1923, in Saginaw, Michigan, to James and Clotilda Ellis. He attended Western Michigan University for two years before enlisting in the Army. After completing basic infantry training, he was sent to Texas A&M University to complete his premedical education. He received his MD from Baylor University in 1948. After internship at Detroit Receiving Hospital, he began basic studies in ophthalmology at Harvard University and started residency training at the University of Nebraska Medical School. He was recalled by the Army as a medical officer for two years, after which he completed his residency training.

He began his long full-time academic career at the University of Iowa, where he remained as Assistant Professor for four years. With grant support from the National Eye Institute, he then was recruited by the University of Arkansas to head their ophthalmology program. He came to Denver in 1960, the first full-time Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Colorado. He continued in this position for 35 years and remained on staff as a Professor for an additional seven years. He expanded greatly the teaching program and helped lead it to achieve national recognition, with over 140 ophthalmologists receiving training during this time.

Dr. Ellis was a frequent speaker at local and national medical society meetings and university training programs. He had over 200 publications to his credit, including books, book chapters, original and review articles on clinical and investigative ophthalmology. He served on many national committees and was consultant to several federal regulatory and policy groups. However, his chief interests were resident training and the development of an eye institute center.

Dr. Ellis was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Guinevere Elaine; his parents; his brother James; his stepchildren James, Rebecca, Robert and Michael; and his nephew Bradley Berard.

He is survived by his sister, Muriel; his one nephew, Robert Spitz and his wife, Karen; his two nieces, June Bouvette and her husband, Mike, and Cheri Stack and her husband, Chuck; his great nieces Amy Brandenburg, Katherine Andres, Jade Bouvette, Beth Bouvette, and Kelly McQuarter; his great nephew Michael Spitz; his great-great nephew Jae Brandenburg; his great-great niece Riley McQuarter; and his great-great nephew Ellis Spitz.

He is also survived by step-daughter-in-law Paulette Bell; step-grandsons Jonathan Maravillas-Bell and Michael Bell; step-granddaughter-in-law Jennifer Maravillas-Bell; step-great-grandson Silas Maravillas-Bell; Michael's wife, Sierra Bell; and their children, Lucas Bell, Lincoln Bell, and Esme Bell.

Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 11am, Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 11150 E. Dartmouth Avenue, Denver. Committal will follow at 2:30pm, Fort Logan National Cemetery.

The memorial service will be live streamed. Please click on this link to join service:

https://www.foreverinourhearts.love/pages/dr-phillip-paul-ellis