In addition to his legal career, Mr. Ellison immersed himself in Democratic politics and had been an active member of the Young Democrats Club.
He had served as campaign treasurer to former City Council President Walter S. Orlinsky and later to City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, who earlier had also served as City Council president.
"Ronnie was as conservative as hell but supported liberal Democrats on the theory that the worst Democrat is better than the best Republican," Mr. DeFilippo said. "That was his political philosophy."
"He was most of all a supportive and loving person who can't be replaced in our lives," Mrs. Clarke said. "He was very powerful in the love and support he gave to so many people. He had an extended family - both young and old - and we will truly miss him."
When Mr. Orlinsky was charged and later found guilty of extorting kickbacks from a sludge-hauling contractor in the early 1980s, Mr. Ellison and Michael E. Kaminkow represented him.
After serving 4 1/2 months of a six-month term at Allenwood Prison Camp in central Pennsylvania in 1983, Mr. Orlinsky was met by Mr. Ellison, who escorted him back to Baltimore.
Mr. Orlinsky died in 2002.
"He remained loyal to Wally through all of his problems," said his former wife, JoAnn Orlinsky.
"He had served as Wally's treasurer, and unlike a lot of politicians, he never missed a filing date and kept them on the straight and narrow," she said. "Ronnie had a lot of political savvy."
Mr. Ellison was an honorary, doting and devoted "uncle" to his friends' children and grandchildren.
"Believe me, he was everyone's favorite uncle," Mrs. Orlinsky said. "He showed up for every bar mitzvah, every dance recital and special birthdays."
Louis Ellison, another cousin who lives in Owings Mills, said, "He was a tremendous friend, adviser - a true consigliere - to all of us for decades."
A longtime resident of Hopkins House on 39th Street, Mr. Ellison had large collections of classic rock 'n' roll records, videotapes and DVD sets of vintage TV shows and Hollywood movies.
"I don't know of anyone who ever got into his apartment," Mr. DiFilippo said. "He may have been a recluse behind that door, but Ronnie had thousands and thousande of friends all over the country. I remember one time when he had surgery, a bunch of them flew in from L.A."
In addition to his love of rock 'n' roll and early TV shows, he also had a taste for vintage port, which he collected and purchased by the case.
"Every Christmas Eve, several of us would get together at my house, and I'd cook dinner and then we'd finish the meal with some wonderful port," Mr. DiFilippo said. "This past Christmas Eve, we drank a wonderful 1995 Dow."
Ms. Rodgers recalled his love of a good story over wine during their weekly Wednesday dinners at such restaurants as Linwoods, Gertrude's or Oceanaire.
"At least once a year, we'd go to the Suburban House for stuffed kishka and hot dogs with sauerkraut and bologna," she said.
"Unwritten but agreed-upon ground rules for dinner: red wine and conversation about politics, other current events, politics, jokes, politics, family doings, mutual friends, politics and stories about unforgettable characters he and I knew," she said.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. tomorrow at Sol Levinson & Brothers, 8900 Reisterstown Road.
There are no immediate survivors.
