Harrisburg, on Thursday February 4, 2021 our village lost one of its ``Supreme Elders``!!! A PROTECTOR OF CHILDREN, A TEACHER, A PROVIDER OF FOOD, A VESSEL OF SAFE PASSAGE, A MUSICIAN, AND A DISCIPLINARIAN... He was ALL of these titles and so much more!!! He was not always PC but he was fair, consistent and always PRESENT!
I'm not sure we realize the enormous gap that we have to fill with his loss. For well over a quarter century Tracy Ellis was relentlessly engaged in the well being of our youth, whether coaching from the diamond, baseline or the end zone, to officiating from those same vantage points.
“MR. TRACY/COACH TRACY” positively impacted tens of thousands of children in the Harrisburg community for the past 30 years. More than likely if you or your child played youth sports or came through the Club, he or she came into contact with our Centurion/TRIBAL SOLDIER. YES, a soldier who had NO aspirations of being Chief or Executive.
His purpose was far greater; he was Dad, Uncle, Mentor and Protector of young people! For the past 20 years Mr. Tracy would take hundreds of children to Little Buffalo State Park annually, where he would safely guide them, feed them, watch over them and assure their safe return. This also included ballparks, zoos, amusement parks, museums, pools etc… I entrusted him with my own children and regret that my grandchildren will not have the benefit of experiencing Mr. Tracy’s bond.
Just this past Thanksgiving Holiday, Mr. Tracy helped hand deliver hundreds of meals to hotel rooms and the door steps of children of the Harrisburg community. We cannot properly cover Tracy Ellis’s impact on the Harrisburg community in a single document. Today we have a huge void in our village. Let’s not allow Mr. Tracy’s dedication to go unfulfilled. Young people “Next woman or man up!!!” Not to fill his shoes, but to continue Mr. Tracy’s legacy.
MR. TRACY, WE THANK YOU! WE LOVE YOU! WE WILL MISS YOU AND NEVER FORGET YOU MY FRIEND!!!
WHAT A MENTOR YOU HAVE BEEN
The Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg would also like to thank the entire community, family and friends for their love and support of our organization. We understand that Tracy Ellis, ``Coach Tracy`` will always be a legacy and great role model for all of us. He made a huge impact in our youth and our in hearts as his colleagues. To the family - As you grieve, we grieve with along side of you.