Patrick Neil Ellis (Pat), passed away on June 10, 2023, in Tucson, Arizona, while at a family gathering. Pat was born on June 7, 1946, in Washington, D.C., to his parents, Ernest William and Muriel Ellis. In 1964, he graduated from Fayetteville (NC) Senior High School as Salutatorian. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD., where he rose to become the 3rd Battalion Commander. He graduated third in the class of 1968 earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Naval Science. Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps.

He served in Vietnam from October 1969 to October 1970 as a Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer, and Company Commander in the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. Following his tour in Vietnam, he returned to the Marine Recruit Depot, San Diego, as the Director of the Marine Sea School. After six years, Pat chose to resign and was Honorably Discharged from the Marine Corps on June 30, 1974.

Between 1974 and 2008, Pat lived in the greater San Diego, CA, area. He began his civilian career as a bank executive, commercial real estate, and mortgage banking for the majority of his professional career. Pat retired from his civilian career at the age of 62, and after a year in Atlanta, GA, with his brother and family, decided to spend his retirement in Borrego Springs, CA.

In the time he lived there, between 2009 and the time of his death, he became very involved in the community. Here he made many life-long friends playing golf, and serving on the Methodist Church Board.

Pat leaves behind his three siblings and a stepbrother, who were with him in Tucson, nieces and nephews, his beloved cat, Misha, and many friends in San Diego, Borrego Springs, and across the country.

He will be interred with a Military Ceremony at Miramar at a date TBD.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

Semper Fi & America’s Fund (https://thefund.org)

The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation at http://www.marineheritage.org

Borrego Animal Rescue (Borregoanimalrescue@gmail.com)