James “Jim” Ellis cared deeply about mentoring Maine’s next generation of firefighters. And after he retired as the longtime chief in Eddington and Holden, he applied that same passion to his career in law enforcement.
Ellis spent the last 17 years of his career at the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, where he was a lieutenant.
“Jim Ellis was the unofficial patriarch of the Holden and Eddington fire departments,” said Benjamin Breadmore, Holden’s town manager. “He trained the crews and helped to grow both departments. He was a father figure to a lot of people.”
Ellis died unexpectedly Monday. He is survived by his wife, Brandy Ellis, and three daughters. He was also a grandfather.
Funeral arrangements are being made and will be announced in the coming days, the sheriff’s office said.
First responders around the state are grieving the loss of Ellis, and many agencies shared condolences on Facebook. Sheriff’s department officers considered Ellis both a co-worker and friend, and he left an impression on everyone he met, the office said.
The office announced his death on Tuesday afternoon, though it did not address the cause.
Ellis graduated from Brewer High School in 1983. He worked for Maine’s fire marshal’s office and the two fire departments before shifting to a career in law enforcement. Even after his retirement as chief, he returned to Eddington as a firefighter because he loved the profession, the department said on Facebook.
Ellis was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer that attacks white blood cells, a few years ago. He went through a stem cell transplant in October 2020, according to a Facebook post that his wife shared.
People turned to Ellis for support and as a voice of reason, said Breadmore, who knew Ellis but began leading the town after he had retired as chief.
In a statement, Sheriff Troy Morton described Ellis as a quiet man with a big smile and infectious laugh. He could not be reached for further comment this week.
“Lt. Ellis spent his entire adult life serving others in the public safety field,” he said. “Those who serve in these roles often wonder if they made a difference. Jim, you made a difference.”
