Margaret D. (Deb) Ensor passed away July 18 at an Indianapolis hospice care center after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. No services will be held at this time. Zeta Tau Alpha will host a celebration of Deb’s life later this year. Deb, 59, was the beloved, longtime Executive Director of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity for women.
Deb was born January 4, 1955, in Hollywood, Fla., to Margaret R. Ensor and the late Michael Emory Ensor. She graduated from Largo (Fla.) High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Florida State University.
Deb worked for Zeta Tau Alpha for all but two years of her adult life, starting as a Traveling Leadership Consultant, then Administrative Assistant and Director of Operations at ZTA International Office in Indianapolis. She left the Fraternity staff in 1983 to spend two years as Campus Relations Manager for Electronic Data Systems in Plano, Texas, before returning to ZTA staff in 1985 as Executive Director, a position she held until her death.
Her leadership, vision and passion shaped the growth and development of Zeta Tau Alpha. She served under 13 National Presidents who valued her insight and encouragement. With Deb’s guidance, ZTA grew to be one of the largest National Panhellenic Conference member organizations and a leader in innovative programs. Her visits to collegiate chapters always resulted in motivation, inspiration and a stronger sisterhood. She encouraged all members to change for the better, to embrace ZTA’s motto to “Seek the Noblest” and to do the right thing, for the right reasons, all the time.
Deb received all of ZTA’s highest honors, including the Louise Kettler Helper Award as the outstanding alumnae member at the Fraternity’s Centennial Convention in 1998. She also served as Vice President of Philanthropy and Vice President of Development for the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation and coined the phrase Think Pink®, now a trademark of the ZTA Foundation and the tagline for the Fraternity’s efforts in breast cancer education and awareness.
She was also known throughout the sorority/fraternity and higher education communities e as a leader and innovator who believed in the power of collegiate and alumnae members to make a positive impact on their campuses and the world. Deb served as President of the Fraternity Executives Association in 2005 and received the Susan Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors in 2009.
Deb was a trusted friend and confidant to ZTA’s National Council, a mentor and role model to hundreds of Traveling Leadership Consultants and National Officers, an inspiration to aspiring collegiate leaders and a motivator to all who were privileged to experience her dynamic public speaking skills and her beautiful singing voice. Just three weeks before her death, she delighted the ZTA Convention in Los Angeles with her singing.
Deb is survived by her mother; her brother, Patrick Ensor; and her nephew, Eli Ensor. No services will be held at this time. Zeta Tau Alpha will host a celebration of Deb’s life later this year. In lieu of flowers, friends may donate to the Deb Ensor Endowed Fund of the ZTA Foundation, 3450 Founders Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268.