It’s being reported that iconic 70’s skateboarder Ellen O’Neal Deason has passed away. I can’ find any first hand sources but is being repeated by reputable people who would know, like Jim Goodrich, the guy behind the lens in both of these photos. She had reputation as a phenomenal freestyler, and yes, one of the earliest well-know female skateboarders, in the company of Patti McGee and Peggy Oki. Ellen was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in 2014.
Editor’s Note: The absence of any mention of the death of Jeff Grosso earlier the year was not intentional, and was due to the fact that Skate and Annoy was more-or-less offline this Spring.
Ellen O’Neal as Jenny Bradshaw in Skateboard – the Movie (1977).
18 comments
Patrice Welch
She was my inspiration in the 70s and I even got a G&S freestyle skateboard! I could do all the tricks but handstands were easiest for me. I was timed at 30 seconds. My farthest.
But the slight slope ended there I could’ve stayed up indefinitely!
Anonymous
Ellen became a dear friend of mine when she was working at Harley Davidson in Sedona and I worked next door. She came in to use our bathroom and from that day on we were fast friends, having lunch together every single day. She would tell me so many stories about her skating days and always hated when I would tell people how bad ass she was and that they were in the presence of fame , she was a very humble woman. She hated when people didn’t put away their shopping cart, she loved her country, and she was the best friend a person could have in their life. I miss her very much and hope she is at peace. So grateful for our friendship Ellen, thank you for being the friend and mentor I needed most !
John Ginn
Got to meet Ellen and Stacy Peralta when they came to the grand opening of a new skate park in El Paso Tx, was a good memory and a lot of fun around 1978!
Diana patterson
Ellen and I skated with dog Town traveled together open a couple skate parks together fun days in the 70’s
Jill Nakano
Ellen and her family lived up the street from us. She had a brother and her mom and dad were the nicest. We, the neighborhood kids, skated around the hilly neighborhood and at Holy Spirit Catholic Church which had a fun slopy paved parking lot perfect for practicing runs. Her and her friend Ed would practice there as well as Home Ave skatepark. Brings back fun memories of the era. RIP Ellen you were and inpiration to me.
Mike Torpey
If anyone knows her family … Could you have them contact me on Facebook … I’m not very techno, so I only use FB … I would like to hear if she ever talked about my skateboard ’78 or 9 … I thought about her earlier this year … I wanted find her and apologize for everything blowing up on my end … Wanted to send her one, but I was in the middle of patenting and it going go public or I could lose the patent, that I ran out of money to get … Found out she died, but I don’t know how … My guess would be Covid
Mike Torpey
I was living in Lincoln City,OR and we talked on the phone a couple times, back in ’78 or 9 … I invented a 3 piece articulated skateboard … She could have replace her 2 boards, with my single board and do all the same stuff or that was my plan everything apart on my end or better stated: … I choked and got scared (long story) and all my dreams died … I’m pushing 69 and thinking what happened … I was going to tell her how sorry I was …Anyone ever heard her mention my “Sidewinder”skateboard???@@@
Prof Pete
Just interviewed a young female skater in Venice who said she was inspired by Ellen O’neal. A great pioneer, leader and person. Thank you Ellen.
Jeannette Garippo
I met Ellen back in 2014 , she was my next door neighbor in Menifee California, She was a sweet lady.. she took the time to play baseball and hang out with my kids . She told them stories about her from the 70’s and how they should take up skating…. especially my daughter . My kids enjoy sharing her story. I’m really glad I got to spend time with her , she was an amazing woman! Rest in peace Ellen and thank you for being so kind to my kids.
Jeannette G
Rest in peace Ellen.
Tad Bryant
Back in the 70s as a skater Ellen was my 1st crush. Not just because I thought she was beautiful but also because she was an amazing skater that could compete in the boys club that was skateboarding back then.
She & my mom both instilled in me that women were just as good if not better than men in most instances.
Thank you for being the strong women you were & shaping my life in the way you did.
Steve Matchett
So very sorry to hear Ellen has passed. Sorry and shocked. We met way back in San Diego when I took hobby photos of local street skateboarders and could see Ellen was special even before her first contest, before she skated for G&S. Spent lots of good times with her, her brother and mother. She once told me very seriously that she wanted to take me out to dinner as thanks for all we had been doing. She took me Jack in the Box. She was 15. Still makes me smile.
Marcie Flajole
Ellen lived in the same apartment building as I did in Pacific Beach in the late 70
Marianne Tardaguila
I appreciate your remembering this wonderful skater…thank you.
Kayla Dery
I actually met her around October of 2020 in a supermarket in arizona. I was wearing Vans and she asked if I skated or was just a poser. I told her i
Tucker Deason
She was my step grandma I never knew her since she moved from Cali to arionza but my father spoke highly of her I kinda wish I met her.
joey rollins
she was a part of the Pepsi skate team, and she was at Knotts Berry Farm performing and I gave her a teddy bear that was in the 70s and I was a teen a great woman
Sean Landry
Tucker….I used to email and talk with Ellen many times before she passed away from COVID….killed me to find out and I’m trying to learn where she is buried now….i am terribly sorry that your step grandmother passed. She was an incredible skater and human being who was very kind to a lot of people.