R.I.P.: Provincetown's Ellie Castillo
Those of you who have visited Provincetown, Massachusetts may have had the pleasure of seeing Ellie Castillo perform in front of town hall over the years. I published a report of Ellie's death last month in error. I'm sorry to say that Ellie died on Thursday of pancreatic cancer.
Ellie was Provincetown. Her spirit - one of reinvention, fun, glamour, joie de vivre - came through as she sang up and down Commercial Street year-round for the past decade, making her not only a town favorite, but also an instant icon. Ellie arrive in Provincetown at the age of 70 as Elliot. As her placard read, she came here, like so many others, to live her dream. A former minister, Ellie's own ministry of peace and love reached thousands. Never without a smile, Ellie loved Provincetown, and Provincetown loved Ellie – so much so that when Town Hall re-opened, Ellie sang one of her standards, Frank Sinatra's "Its Impossible", to an adoring crowd. Ellie will be remembered always for her kindness and commitment to this community. We'll all miss her.
Above is a photo I shot of Ellie in 2004.
Watch a video of Ellie performing at Town Hall and a message from her daughter about a special tribute in June to the longtime Provincetown icon, AFTER THE JUMP...
Message from Andree Clearwater:
Dear Friends of Ellie,
Yesterday(thursday), our beloved Dad passed away at 5 PM, 56 days after his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer. He died peacefully, after a valiant fight, with a slight smile on his face. He had family members with him every step of the way, and we were all privileged to love and be there with him. Thank you for all of your love and support and for your continued love and prayers. You are all invited to a public Celebration of Life for Ellie at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Provincetown on Saturday May 14th at 11 AM. We are throwing a big tribute party- an Ellie Palooza- for everyone on Father's Day, June 19th at 1 PM, in front of Town Hall where Dad used to sing, followed by a reception and silent auction at the Crown and Anchor, where Dad sometimes performed. RSPVs for the Ellie Palooza can be made on Facebook when we get that set up, hopefully soon. What an amazing journey this has been. Godspeed Ellie! Adios and aloha! All is well...Love,Andree, Lisa, Peter, Tom and Jim, Ellie's five children, and the rest of the Castillo family
While cats and dolphins enjoying each other's company certainly made my Sunday morning, this tribute especially accelerated it. It is so heartwarming when people truly enjoy the "special" in other people...
Posted by: La Garza | Apr 10, 2011 1:18:05 PM
I saw her perform on Commercial Street, in Provincetown, last summer. She enjoyed life to the fullest, and I am sad to hear of her death. She will be missed.
Posted by: Steve | Apr 10, 2011 1:47:22 PM
The Boston Fenway Men's Event was last night and Tom Yaz (DJ) had a nice tribute to Ellie.
BosGuy
Posted by: BosGuy | Apr 10, 2011 1:55:33 PM
Eliot Stanton Castillo, 79, known as Provincetown entertainer "Ellie," died peacefully Thursday, April 7, at the McCarthy Care Center in East Sandwich after a valiant fight against pancreatic cancer only 56 days after he was diagnosed. He was surrounded by family throughout that time.
Eliot was born in Malden on Dec.1, 1931. He spent summers with his family at their summer home in Clementsport, Nova Scotia. He graduated from Malden High School, attended Bates College for two years and graduated from Tufts University in 1954. He was the founding minister of the First Baptist Church in Wilmington in 1957. He pastored an Assembly of God church in Middleton in 1959. He received a bachelor of divinity degree from Gordon Divinity School in South Hamilton in 1961. He pastored the First Baptist Church in Framingham from 1960-1966. During his tenure, he opened the door to the ecumenical movement, inviting Richard Cardinal Cushing to speak to a standing room only congregation. Time magazine hailed this as the first time a Roman Catholic prelate had been invited to speak in a Protestant church.
He took a brief leave from the ministry in 1966 to pursue sales, with Brown & Bigelow Advertising, becoming the top salesperson on the East Coast. He pastored two churches in Passumpsic and East Barnet, Vt., with his second wife, Kay, and their son, James, from 1968-1970. They lived in Hyannis from 1970-1976 and Framingham from 1976-1980.
Eliot had a ministry on public TV in Worcester from 1992-1994. He pastored the Bristol Baptist Church in New Hampshire from 1994-8. He returned to the Cape, living in West Dennis from 1998-2001. During this time, Eliot worked at a shipyard on the Cape, where he was part of a team that refurbished Ted Kennedy's sailboat.
Eliot moved to Provincetown in 2001. He performed his first concert as "Ellie" at the Unitarian Universalist Church in 2003. He started street performing as "Ellie — P’town Showgirl, 74 Years Young — Living Her Dreams," regaling tourists and townspeople year round, in all weather, with Broadway show tunes, Amazing Grace, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett renditions, becoming a Provincetown icon as its unofficial ambassador-greeter. He performed in front of Town Hall, Chadington's, Whaler’s Wharf, and pulled a wagon carrying his sound equipment up and down Commercial Street as he sang.
Ellie's good friend, producer Tom Yaz, persuaded Ellie after three years to produce "Ellie in High Fidelity," in 2009, which sold out immediately. It is currently in its third production run. Ellie won first place in Ryan Landry's Showgirls, for his signature song "My Way," and appeared in numerous youTube videos posted by Provincetown tourists who loved him. Ellie was the subject of several documentaries, short films, magazine and newspaper articles, including coverage in The New York Times.
Ellie was a devotee of the Outer Cape Chorale ,and an active participant at both St. Peter’s and the Unitarian churches in Provincetown. He was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan.
His last public performance was at the grand re-opening of the Provincetown Town Hall in December 2010, for which he received a standing ovation. His greatest legacy was loving and accepting everyone for who they are, and encouraging everyone to live their dreams.
Eliot is survived by his first wife, Irene Illing Fariss, the mother of his first four children, Andree Clearwater of Shelburne Falls, Lisa Andrews of Halver, Germany, Peter John Castillo of Northampton, and Thomas Castillo of Amherst; his son Sgt. First Class James Castillo of Oceanside, Calif; his older sister, Gloria of Malden; plus 12 grandchildren, two nieces and countless friends. He is predeceased by his second wife, Kay Castillo.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ellie's memory to the McCarthy Care Center, 73 Service Road, East Sandwich, MA, 02537; to St. Peter's Church, Provincetown; or to the Unitarian Universalist Church, Provincetown. A public Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Provincetown. A “Tribute to Ellie — An Ellie Palooza” will be held on Father's Day, June 19, at 1 p.m., in front of Provincetown Town Hall, followed by a reception and silent auction at The Crown & Anchor.
Posted by: tom yaz | Apr 10, 2011 2:30:49 PM
Thanks so much for posting this news about Ellie's life and transition. Ellie's message of humanity and peace impacted my life evermore. She'll be missed and remembered.
Posted by: Jason H. | Apr 10, 2011 6:01:01 PM
Ellie sort of represented all facets of life -- humor, tragedy, sadness, defiance, joy, embarrassment and ultimately triumph. I watched the differing reactions to her on my many visits to Ptown, including that of my own children who looked mesmerized and terrified at the same time. I will never forget her wearing her stars and stripes bikini during the Carnival Parade in 2005 dragging the red wagon with her karaoke machine inside, all the while singing, in her deep baritone, some standard or other. You laughed at her, with her, and ultimately just thought "way to go." I have tears in my eyes today. It won't be the same without her.
Posted by: Jonathan | Apr 11, 2011 9:51:08 AM
I was sad to hear of Ellie's passing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z48w6z3uPs0
Posted by: Ricky Coombs | Apr 11, 2011 11:08:48 AM
I was sad to hear of Ellie's passing.
Posted by: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z48w6z3uPs0 | Apr 11, 2011 11:09:45 AM
what a beautiful human spirit.
Posted by: MannyS | Apr 11, 2011 3:54:32 PM
I still have her manifesto and will never forget the way she made everyone smile singing to everyone who passed by. Ellie makes me smile just thinking about her.
She was living her dream...we should all be so lucky. Rest in Peace.
Posted by: Jesse Archer | Apr 11, 2011 5:48:40 PM
Sorry to hear of her passing.
BTW It's Impossible was a huge hit for Perry Como, not Frank Sinatra
Posted by: MDtopdad | Apr 12, 2011 12:32:48 AM
May Ellie be a lesson to all of us. Live Your Dream! RIP Ellie
Posted by: Kathryn Oldfield | Jun 2, 2011 11:34:13 PM
Each summer upon arriving to Provincetown I always looked forward to watching Ellie perform. To me she represented the spirit of P-Town which is peace and love. I will always think of Ellie each time I sit on a bench in front of the town hall. Ellie's magical spirit lives on..
Posted by: Jay Besteiro | Sep 6, 2011 1:52:27 AM