In Memoriam: Barbara Ellis Trehearne (July 13, 1948 - March 22, 2023)
It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of Barbara Ellis Trehearne on March 22, 2023. She was 74 years young and died in the comfort of her home on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Washington, the city in which she lived for over 45 years. She was surrounded by the love and presence of her daughters, sisters, and friends in her final days. Barbara battled many medical issues over the course of her life, many of which went unknown and unseen by the people who knew her. She ultimately passed away from a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Barbara was born in Middletown, Ohio to two first-generation Greek Americans, Tony and Nina Ellis. She was the middle sibling to oldest sister Mary Ann, brother Stephen, and younger sisters Nikki and Delores. Her father Tony owned a carpet store in Dayton and her mother Nina, a nurse, cared for their five children and home. Barbara was raised humbly, sharing a room with her three sisters. She was a crafty and clever negotiator from the start, paying her sisters Nikki and Delores a quarter to make her bed, clean her room, and do the dishes for her. She attended West Carrolton High School where she was a cheerleader and played on the softball team. She was married in 1973 and moved to Seattle in 1978, 8 months pregnant with her first of two daughters, Nicole.
Following in the footsteps of her mother, Barbara also pursued an education in nursing. She graduated from Riverside Hospital White Cross School of Nursing in 1969 and went on to receive her Bachelor of Science (1971) and Master's Degree in Nursing (1975). In 2000, working full-time and caring for her two daughters, she went on to achieve her Doctorate of Philosophy in Healthcare Administration and Women’s Studies from the Union Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio. Her doctoral dissertation was well received as it examined perceptions of the role of nurse executives in the healthcare industry.
Barbara was an inspirational leader and visionary in the nursing community for over 30 years. She served as the Vice President of Clinical Excellence, Quality, and Nursing for Group Health, now Kaiser, and as the Chief Nurse for over 1300 RNs, LPNs, and Medical Assistants. She was a steadfast advocate for the continued development of nursing leaders and the advancement of nursing professions throughout the country. As a patient, undergoing her own medical care, she encountered many of the nurses she advocated for. Her reputation preceded her, as many knew and respected her. A recent nurse caring for her said “I never worried with Barbara as the Chief Nurse. I always knew she had our backs.” She fought for the rights of nurses, spending long hours, days, and weeks in negotiations to make sure they were treated justly. She was a tireless local and national advocate for the value nursing brings to patient care.
Barbara was instrumental in the development of multiple leadership and education programs that advanced nursing leaders. She lectured undergraduate and graduate programs across the Seattle area with academic appointments as the Associate Dean of Clinical Practice at the University of Washington School of Nursing, Adjunct Faculty at Seattle Pacific University, School of Nursing, Clinical Instructor of Seattle University School of Nursing, and Clinical Faculty at Pacific Lutheran University School of Nursing. Barbara was well-published with over 20 papers on the roles of nurses and best practices for nursing managers. She was highly recognized by local and national institutions for nurses with numerous awards such as the 2013 Northwest Institutions for Nursing, Council of King County and Seattle Community Business Champion Award and the 2009 Leadership and Management Award of the Professional Nursing and Health Care Council of the Washington State Nurses Association. A highlight of her career was when she was invited to testify before the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pension (HELP) Committee in Washington D.C. on behalf of the Seattle King County Workforce Development Council (WDC) where she testified on what successful partnerships look like, and how staff members benefit from them.
In addition to her professional career, Barbara was very active in her church, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Seattle, Washington. She held the role of Parish Council President once in 2008 and was in the 6th year of her second term from 2020 until the time of her passing. With the support of Father Photios Dumont and many others, she navigated through Covid as the Head of the Reopening Committee and acted as Chairwoman for the first ever Strategic Plan, securing the future health and prosperity of the church. She was devout in her faith which served as a guiding light to her in many times of darkness as well as times of joy.
Barbara was a devoted mother, sister, Nouna, and friend. She loved to cook for her family and friends, particularly around the holidays of Pascha, Christmas, and Thanksgiving, which was her favorite. She loved breakfast, any and all pasta, cheeseburgers and fries, her mother’s avgolemono soup and roasted Chicken…so much chicken. She introduced her grandchildren to ice cream at an early age, which quickly replaced their fruit “dessert,” (Thanks a lot YiaYia). She always had candy treats for her grandchildren and would make to-go bags for the kids that she always carried in her purse. She had a tradition of making cookies for around the holidays with her grandchildren, something they always looked forward to.
Barbara traveled the world – Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Austria, Jerusalem (Holy Land) soaking in the culture, wine, food, museums, art and most of all, shopping! She often traveled with her family, friends, children, and cousins and spared no expense to enjoy life to the fullest. She spent many vacations in one of her favorite places, Poipu Kauai, and family vacations in Outer Banks, NC, and St. Augustine, FL. She traveled everywhere and anywhere multiple times a year to visit her daughter Nicole in Los Angeles and Nisa in New York City and Florence, IT.
Barbara was a patron of the arts in Seattle and enjoyed season tickets to the Seattle Opera and Ballet for over 30 years. She held a tradition of taking her children and grandchildren to the Nutcracker Ballet every year for Christmas. She loved Friday night dinners with her friends and family and spent many evenings at the old Volunteer Park Café on Capitol Hill. She loved the music of the 50’s and 60’s like Carole King and Barbara Streisand. She loved to dance and sing along to the music (even though her voice wasn’t very good). At any wedding, party, or celebration, she would always lead the syrtaki. Why let the men lead when a woman could do it better!
She is survived by two daughters: Nicole Trehearne and her husband Matt Markoff, and Nisa Trehearne Basilicato and her husband Michael Basilicato; and three grandchildren: Nicolas James Basilicato (8), Isabella Rose Basilicato (3), and Nina Jane Markoff (9mo). Barbara is also survived by her two sisters, Nikki Burns (Robert Feldman) and Delores Minor (Thomas Minor) and their respective children Mike Burns, Eleni Towner, Callie Gullett, Anthony Minor, and niece Angela Painter. There are too many friends to name them all here, but one special friend who was more like a sister and a second mother to her daughters, Janice Kent, will forever hold a special place in her heart. She was predeceased by her parents Tony and Nina Ellis, her older sister Mary Ann Ellis, and her older brother Stephen Ellis.
Her funeral will take place at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2100 Boyer Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112 at 11am on April 4, 2023. Fr. Photios Dumont will officiate the services. The pallbearers are Tom Minor, Max Reese, Jon Nordin, Matt Markoff, Mike Basilicato, and Tyler Gullett. The makaria or “mercy meal” will take place at the Hall at St. Demetrious directly following the service. Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle is in charge of the funeral arrangements and is where she will be laid to rest.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Seattle. Donations can be made online here: https://www.saintdemetrios.com/stewardship/egiving
Thank you to all of those who loved her, supported her, and fought with her and for her. Her passing will leave an unfillable void in all our lives.