RENSSELAERVILLE — Ellen Nickelsberg, who left Wall Street to raise German shepherds and herd sheep in Medusa, died on Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. She was 77.

“Born Ellen Georgi Worcester, Ellen lived her early life in Englewood, New Jersey with her parents, Doctors Dorothea and John Worcester, and her brothers, William and John,” her family wrote in a tribute. “She attended Dwight Englewood High School and graduated from Manhattanville College.

“Following graduation, she went to work at Johnson Redbook Service as a retail store analyst. There she met and married Fred Shaughnessy and moved to Mt. Kisco, New York.

“After Fred’s tragic death, Ellen went back to working on Wall Street where she met and married Jost Nickelsberg. Soon thereafter, Ellen’s interest in German shepherds and sheep herding began to grow and in 1996 they moved to a large farm in Medusa, New York.

“There Ellen raised German shepherd dogs and a flock of sheep to pursue her sheep-herding passion. She and Jost made several trips to Germany to train under Manfred Heyne — a world famous Shepherd Master and 14 times winner of the German National sheep trials.

“With her training and experience, Ellen started a website to help others and wrote several articles on German shepherd breeding and shepherding that were published on German shepherd breeding websites. She received acclaim on several herding websites from other sheep herders she helped train. 

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Ellen Ellen Nickelsberg is survived by her brother, John Worcester, her niece, Amanda Worcester, and Amanda’s children, Colton and Annabel, as well as her cousins, Julie Worcester, Cammie Bryant, and Terry Kaelber.

“The Worcester and Nickelsberg families wish to thank the many caregivers including Myra Swain, Cara Swain, Sarah Gifford, Sharon Forman, Amanda and Donna Burton, Heidi Florussen, Beaulie Dubose, Gina Grant, Liesl Burnham, Melissa Carkner and Jen Martineau for their heartfelt care of Jost and Ellen, during Jost’s illness,” her family wrote.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday, March 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home at 4898 State Route 81 in Greenville. A prayer service will be held at 1 p.m. 

Memorial messages may be left at www.altamontenterprise.com/milestones.

Memorial contributions may be made to Karma Bob’s Animal Refuge, 1580 Cotton Hill Road, Berne, NY 12023.