Ellen Busch (Née Birnbach)

Ellen Busch lived in many ways a tale of two American lives:  one Northern and one
Southern. Everywhere she was she loved art, culture, and chocolate.
Ellen, who became a resident of Savannah 18 years ago, and who over that relatively
brief period won the friendship and praise of dozens of Savannah’s families as a teacher and
private tutor, died October 13. She was 83 years old.
She was born and grew up in the Hillcrest section of Queens, NY. Her family was one of
many who escaped Poland during World War II. Ellen was one of three children; her younger
brother passed away at an early age. Ellen's family spoke Polish, Yiddish, and English at home.
An exceptional student, she graduated in 1957 from Jamaica High School in just three years and
then enrolled in Queens College as an Education major. It was there that she met her future
husband, Steve Becker, and they were married in August of 1960. Ellen was an avid games
player including bridge.
They lived in Rego Park, Queens for seven years, during which time Ellen worked as a
teacher. In 1968, the couple moved to Greenwich, CT where their two daughters, Kim, and
Shanon, were born.
Ellen and Steve separated in 1977, and were divorced in 1982, after which she married
her second husband, Ed Busch. In 1983, Ellen and Ed moved to Hilton Head, SC, where they
purchased Geiger’s Records, a store that sold musical records and tapes.
The Buschs retired to Savannah in 2003, and after Ed’s death in 2010, Ellen returned to
teaching as a tutor. Beginning in 2013, Ellen tutored both adults (ACE) and children at Royce
Learning Center, where students and families adored her.  She also volunteered at Buckingham
South Senior Care, People for Action Caring for Kids (PACK) and traveled to Europe.
Ellen’s illness was discovered in early 2023, and Steve, family and dear friends provided
active emotional support up to her final days. She was loved by all for her kindness and lively
intellect. Her final resting place will be Beaufort Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations
in Ellen’s memory may be made to the Royce Center ( https://roycelearningcenter.org/Donate-
to-Royce-Learning-Center). Ellen is survived by daughters Shanon and Kim, their spouses
Matthew and Andrea and six grandchildren: Zoe, Jacob, Sasha, Ava, Maddox and Rowan, and
her brother Howard.  May her memory be a blessing.

Please share your thoughts about Ellen and her life at www.gamblefuneralservice.com