Businessman. Born Nathan Ancelowitz, he co-founded the Ethan Allen Furniture Company with his brother-in-law, Thoedore Baumritter. In 1932, the two started a housewares company. They purchased a bankrupt furniture manufacturer in Vermont, and in 1939 introduced an early-American line of furniture under the name Ethan Allen. It became their biggest seller and they changed the name of their company to Ethan Allen, Inc. Ancel pioneered the concept of selling furniture in room-like, or gallery, settings. When the partners sold the company in 1980, it was one of the largest furniture manufacturers in the country.  Ancell helped establish the Ancell School of Business at Western Connecticut with a gift of $900,000.  After the school opened in 1982, he taught ethics and marketing. (bio by: Ginny M)