Elliott, Holly Hall

Hard of hearing. Born at Los Angeles as Holly Hall; father was a Navy chaplain and so she grew up and was educated in many places in the US, Guam, and Shanghai, China. Despite her deafness, graduated UCLA with a music degree in 1941. Married James Elliott (hearing) in 1944. Raised 3 sons and, with her husband, established the annual Sugar Loaf Mountain Music and Arts Camp in El Dorado County, CA. After her husband died in 1968, her pastor advised her to stop fighting her deafness and use it instead. She took an M.S. in rehabilitation counseling from Sacramento State University, 1970. Worked at the University of California's Center on Deafness as a counselor-therapist 1970-1980, then directed an experimental 5-year graduate program in rehabilation counseling for low-functioning deaf persons at San Francisco State University 1980-1985. Returned to UCCD to write and edit 2 books on mental health assessment of deaf clients. Retired in 1989, but was soon "recalled" to collaborate in a research project on adult onset hearing loss; finally retired for good in 1992. Served on boards of various Methodist Church committees for the deaf. Wrote and spoke widely on social services for the deaf; recipient of several service awards. Died in Portland, OR.