Looking Back With Lee – Remembering Eleanor Rotman

Read more on page 248 of the March, 2012 issue of The Canine Chronicle 

From the March 2021 Canine Chronicle Archives 

By Lee Canalizo

During the ‘70s there was a whole new wave of young judges trying to find their way in the dog show world. We all studied standards, watched the AKC breed videos (remember them?), went to Nationals, Specialties, and were focused on hitting seminars/symposiums everywhere we could! It seems, looking back then, there was a judges workshop around every corner!

I headed up one for the Long Island crowd and knew firsthand how difficult it was to coordinate getting quality presenters and a suitable attendance. One of the very best of these judges groups was the Tri-State group started and maintained by Eleanor (Ellie) Rotman. Now Ellie was not a shrinking violet, and I’m still mystified about how she did it…but she brought in the best of the best for her presentations.

She was a physiologist by profession, working with children, predominantly in a school setting. She had a big outgoing personality and wonderful good looks to go with it. She was also exuberant and energetic to boot! Her charm secured some of the areas preeminent breeders, together with their dogs, for our programs. It was not an easy task to get them mid-week somewhere in the middle of New Jersey. It was always a late night with endless questions and much knowledge shared.

Ellie started her career in dogs with obedience, with her first Poodles. This led to her applying for her obedience approval. She enjoyed judging obedience for many years before branching out to the conformation ring. She was a very popular judge due to her sunny disposition and her friendly manor with dogs and exhibitors alike. One of her efforts was forming the Non-Sporting Group of the Garden State association, which was one of the first group clubs and is still active today. I know she did all Toys and all Non-Sporting and was one of my favorite traveling companions to the many shows we judged together.

Ellie was married to Bert and they had one son, Scott, who was the light of their lives. She and her husband loved playing golf and one of the highlights of her judging career was being invited to judge the prestigious Windsor Kennel Club Show in England. Being in the British Isles was, of course, a wonderful opportunity to hop over to Scotland and play golf on the fabled St. Andrews Course. She didn’t break any records, but it was a dream come true for a dedicated golfer.

A close friend of Ellie was Desi Murphy and he sends me what he wants everyone to know about our dear friend:

“There are so many wonderful memories of Ellie. In all the years of showing to her I do not remember the wins or loses, just the fun of showing to her. She had a way of making everyone who entered her ring that they were at a Garden Party! She made the novice feel they were on a par with the old pros. She would not allow anybody not to enjoy the time in her ring. Even the spectators outside her ring were drawn into party mode. She had a way of making a starting novice feel they were an important part of the show.”

Most people never saw a very serious side of Ellie. Because of her profession… click to read more 

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