R. Hollis Elliott
Feb. 8, 1935-Nov. 1, 2015
Santa Rosa, California
R. Hollis Elliott, 80, died on Sunday, November 1, at his home in Santa Rosa, California, of a massive heart attack.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Debbie Devoto, his daughter Sherri-Ann Elliott, his son Roscoe Elliott, and his brothers Hayden (Pat) and Corbin (Arlene) Elliott as well as an extended family scattered throughout California and the U.S. Hollis was born Roscoe Hollis Elliott Jr. on February 8, 1935, in Bozeman, Montana, to Muriel Pease Elliott and Roscoe Hollis Elliott Sr.
The middle of three boys, Hollis was not immune to trouble-making, a skill which served him well later in life. "Let me be the devil’s advocate," was often a phrase he used around dinner table discussions and when asked for a legal position, his first response was usually, "Who am I representing?"
Hollis graduated from Gallatin County High in 1953 and spent a short time at the University of Montana before enlisting in the Marin Corps. He served much of his active duty from 1954 to 1956 onboard the USS Wasp, a tour which brought him to the Formosa Straits, Japan and the Philippines. Following his discharge, Hollis returned to Montana, and in 1958 moved his family to Menlo Park to attend Stanford University, majoring in economics.
He went on to graduate from Stanford Law School in 1962. Always a loyal supporter of his alma mater, Hollis was able to watch one last thrilling Cardinal football victory over Washington State the night before his death. Hollis spent the rest of his life as a practicing attorney. After graduating from law school, he began his career working for the state of California, (primarily right-of-way acquisition-eminent domain work).
In 1966, after hearing about the Freedom Riders Movement, he went to Jackson, Mississippi, to volunteer with the Lawyers Constitutional Defense Committee of the ACLU. He represented African-Americans who had been charged with crimes but found it difficult to obtain representation in the segregated South.
He returned to Menlo Park and in 1968 joined the law firm of Jorgenson, Cosgrove, Flickinger, et al. In 1971, he began his work as a "small town lawyer" with partners, Tom Nolan, Chan Flickinger, and Brenda Cash.
For the next 43 years, the office at 841 Menlo Ave was his second home. He retired in 2014, and moved with Debbie to the Sonoma Valley wine country at Oakmont. Throughout his life, he enjoyed traveling, reading, tennis, running, skiing and following the political scene. Hollis believed that it took a village -– to raise a child, to debate politics, to make it to exercise class -– in essence, to live a full life. In that spirit, an informal celebration of his life will be held on Dec. 5, from 2 to 4 p.m., at Harry’s Hof Brau, 1909 El Camino Real in Redwood City. His friends are invited to bring stories and share a toast.
The family requests no flowers. If you would like to make a donation, Doctors without Borders, the Salvation Army or a charity of your choosing would be appropriate.
Tags: veteran
