Past Eastern Principal, Ellie Doersam, Passes Away

Former Eastern High School Principal in Lansing passes away

It is with great sadness that the Lansing School District family acknowledges the passing of Eleanor Doersam, the first female principal in the Lansing district.  Doersam passed away at the age of 92.  She had a 39-year association with the Lansing School District and served as principal at Eastern High School beginning in 1983 and at the time, she was the first female in the 122-year history of the Lansing School District to serve in a educational leadership role. 

“Eleanor Doersam was a legend in the Lansing School District,” said superintendent Ben Shuldiner.  “She was a founding member of the Eastern High School Athletic Hall of Fame and among the first members of the Eastern High foundation that supports many school causes.  She will be missed by many, and we offer our sincere condolences to her family.”

“Ms. Doersam was a principal’s principal, she embodied what it is to be a Quaker,” said Eastern High School principal Marcelle Carruthers.  “Ms. Doersam was the heartbeat of the Quaker Alumni, as a founding member.  She encouraged and inspired both with fire and a touch of a feather. Her legacy is long and deep among Quakers. Ms. Doersam checked on every new Quaker leader and offered words of encouragement and tips for success. Eleanor Doersam had expectations for every Quaker to know that greatness lives in all of them and to walk in that greatness. Her physical presence will be missed but her legacy will forever live in the generations of Quakers she has touched.”  

“Ms Doersam was a principal that always had love for all students,” said Board of Education secretary Dr. Nino Rodriguez who worked closely with Ms. Doersam as her assistant principal. “She put special attention toward student learning and she did everything possible to see that all students were growing and achieving with the challenging curriculum. She was very attentive in knowing about all extracurricular activities and gave everybody the opportunity to participate. The culture of the Eastern family was with her all the time. Every morning she talked about the values of this family. The Lansing School District was very fortunate to have a person and educator with so many good values and virtues.”

"Ellie Doersam was a great person and a good principal,” said Board of Education member Guillermo Lopez.  “She worked very well with the community and in particular she worked very well with the Latino community."

Eleanor Doersam enjoyed many leadership roles in the Lansing community including serving as a member of the American Red Cross, and past president of the University of Michigan Alumni Association.  Doersam earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan.