"I believe that I have grown with the technology changes and have adapted well along with handling the large quantity of certificates to be print" - Elly

Elly Kantorowicz is a name that most NFL members and coaches would not recognize as a member of the NFL staff even though she has touched many NFL students and coaches by the beautiful calligraphy on their NFL membership certificates. Chances are the membership certificate most coaches and students cherish has been done by Elly since she has printed over 800,000 pieces.

Elly began her career with NFL in the Fall of 1958. At that time she was the second of two calligraphers. Elly was discovered by Ruthmary Hilke, who was Mr. Bruno Jacob’s secretary. Mrs. Hilke saw a poster at a church function that Elly had printed and arranged an interview for Elly with Mr. Jacob. And as the saying goes “the rest is history”.

During the years 1983 through 2001 Elly was the sole calligrapher for NFL. She had no formal training in calligraphy. She was self taught and developed her own special style. In the early years calligraphy was done with India ink and a stick pen, which was very tedious. At the start of her career Elly was paid only 7 cents per certificate. There was also a penalty of 25 cents for each error that a calligrapher made. This penalty was short lived. Elly believes that most of the calligraphers did not stay with the position because you must have a lot of self discipline to do the tedious exacting hours needed to complete the tremendous amounts of certificates. During the 1960’s there were about 10,000 new members each year, which has increased to 29,000 in the current years.

Not only does Elly print student and coaches certificates she also prints affiliate certificates, charters, National Tournament participation certificates, club certificates, diamond certificates, honorary certificates, National Tournament Bid Packets, Academic All American certificates and Rostrum certificates. She has also printed some scholarship certificates along with calligraphy for the Pi Kappa Delta organization. Elly said she felt very privileged when she printed the Communicator of the Year certificate for Jane Pauley.

Elly has been married to her husband Carl for 54 years. Carl is retired from the Ripon Public Schools but is also employed by NFL because he adheres the merit seals to the certificates for Elly to print on. He is also the delivery and pick up person for the calligraphy printing schedule.

Elly and Carl have two daughters. Their daughter Neva teaches music at Oak Creek Carrollton School in Wisconsin and their other daughter Karey is a volunteer worker for the school and an organist for several churches. They have 2 granddaughters, twin grandsons and one other grandson.

Mr. Bruno E. Jacob, the founder of NFL, selected the diamond as an award for coaches because it’s beauty symbolized brilliance and it’s hardness symbolized devotion to duty. Elly has demonstrated both of these qualities through her self taught style and her longevity of printing for NFL. She certainly is a “diamond” calligrapher.

Elly's Top Ten favorites...

10.Cleaning

9. Reading medical journals

8. Watching good videos

7. Entertaining at their cottage

6. Calligraphy

5. Sewing

4. Gardening

3. Maintaining their home & cottage

2. Spending time with grandchildren

1. Spending time with family