Ellen Placas

Ellen Placas, a longtime Livermore resident, died July 16. She was 89.

Placas worked at the Lab as a non-destructive testing engineer until her retirement at the age of 65. She was one of the first women to work at the Lab in a non-secretarial position.

Placas was an active member of the Livermore Valley Lithophiles and spent much of her free time searching the globe for rocks and gemstones.

She also was an active member of St. Michaels Catholic Church and volunteered many years at St. Vincent de Paul.

She is survived by two sons Frank and Gregg, six granddaughters and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Placas, and her brother, Thomas Krampff.

Services will be held at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Livermore today (Friday, July 23) at 10 a.m., followed by an open house at 4 p.m. at 3864 Harvard Way, Livermore, for all who wish to celebrate her life.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Placas’ name to St. Vincent de Paul of Livermore.