Ellen Revelle was a descendant of the prominent Scripps family and wife of a legendary scientist and educator, but she forged her own legacy as a leader in philanthropy and devoted supporter of arts and education in San Diego.

Whether she was helping stuff envelopes for a nonprofit or donating a landmark cottage to the La Jolla Historical Society, Mrs. Revelle believed in the family tradition of public service exemplified by her great-aunt and namesake, Ellen Browning Scripps.