Remembering 'Reggie'. Legacy of Rafe Reginald Ellison: Beloved Rochester Endowment Sponsor, Businessman

Rafe Reginald "Reggie" Ellison

Rafe Reginald Ellison, affectionately known as "Reggie," passed away suddenly on August 24, 2024. Born on October 21, 1973, in Rochester, NY, Reggie was the youngest son of Rafe and Mazina Ellison. He was a passionate advocate for housing and mortgage finance policy, leaving a lasting legacy in community development.

Reggie attended Nathaniel Hawthorne School #25 and Nathaniel Rochester #3 Middle School before graduating from Edison Career and Technology High School. Following his high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served in South Carolina, Georgia, Colorado, and Germany, sparking his lifelong love of travel. After being honorably discharged in 1994, Reggie used the GI Bill to attend Monroe Community College (MCC), where he earned his associate degree in 1997. He then went on to the University of Buffalo, graduating with a degree in economics in 1999. During this time, Reggie participated in the prestigious Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) summer program at Princeton University.

In 2001, Reggie completed a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs, becoming a leader in his class. His professional journey took him to Prince George’s County, Maryland, where he worked at various federal agencies over two decades, including the Government Accountability Office, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). His efforts focused on expanding affordable housing options and helping first-time homebuyers.

Reggie’s passion for real estate led him to earn a Master of Science degree in real estate and infrastructure from Johns Hopkins University in 2008. He purchased rental properties in Prince George's County, practicing fair tenant policies and expanding his property management business. In 2022, Reggie retired from federal service and founded Kingstree LLC to continue his work in real estate development and consulting.

Reggie was a generous supporter of education, establishing the Professor V. Sumati Devadutt Award for Academic Excellence at MCC, which honored his former professor and supported students from Rochester City Schools. He also gave the commencement speech at MCC in 2022, inspiring students with his life story.

Although he never married, Reggie cherished his relationships with family and friends. He loved spending time with loved ones, especially during family gatherings and holidays in Rochester. He was a loyal fan of the New York Knicks and Jets and never missed a family graduation or celebration.

Reggie is survived by his parents, Rafe and Mazina Ellison; his siblings Nate (Rose) Ellison, Jackie Ellison, and Leslie Young; nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; and his cherished adopted mother, Sumati Devadutt. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Rufus and Minnie Ellison, and Willie and Virginia Cooper.

In honor of Reggie, donations can be made to the Professor V. Sumati Devadutt Award for Academic Excellence at the MCC Foundation HERE.

Homegoing services for Reggie were held on Friday, September 6, 2024. Mayor Malik D. Evans has proclaimed September 6 as Rafe Reginald Ellison Day in recognition of his contributions.

Reggie will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on in the lives he touched, the scholarship he founded, and the intergenerational wealth he built for his family.