Ellen Conathan Tonkin, 72, of Nettles Island, Florida, passed away Sunday, January 28, 2024, after a brief illness.

Ellen was the fifth child of the late John E. Conathan and Helen R. Conathan (Nugent) of Duxbury, Massachusetts. She graduated from Duxbury High School and American University. Summers on Saquish Beach instilled a lifelong love of the ocean reflected in every place she lived.

Ellen was a strong independent woman who had the courage and tenacity to build a successful business on Nantucket. In 1980 Ellen was hired by the Nantucket Ship Chandlery as an assistant. She soon became an indispensable sales manager, then owner. With her husband, Kim a/k/a McGyver, the Chandlery was essential to the Nantucket Yacht Basin, supplying marine equipment, supplies, gifts and accessories, and providing repair services of all sorts. The store operated successfully on the Nantucket wharf before closing in 2015.

In winter months, Ellen and Kim were drawn to Florida's east coast by the warm weather and the boat shows and marine business events. On one such trip they cruised from Nantucket via the Intracoastal Waterway aboard the 26' Little Bear and discovered Nettles Island, Jensen Beach. They soon traded the boat for a modest cottage.

Ellen enjoyed organizing and participating in community events. She was an honorary Life Member of the Nantucket Anglers Club, and served several terms on its board of directors including time as its president. She often decorated her Jeep and joined the Daffodil Days parade on Nantucket. On Nettles Island, she rediscovered her tennis game. She coached her team in league play and helped run the tournaments.

Ellen's family and friends loved her very much. She was smart, funny and wicked cool. She will be sadly missed.

Ellen was pre-deceased by her loving husband, Kim and her parents. She is survived by her sister, Joanna; her brothers, John, Peter, Ted, and Jim; her sisters-in law, Mary, Carol, Debi, Leah, and Barbara; and a posse of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Receptions for family and friends will be held at Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine on April 6 at three o'clock and in Jensen Beach, Florida, date to be announced.

Instead of flowers, Ellen would wish for you to donate to a charity of your choice.