Eli Kwartler, 89, died Saturday, August 3 at his home in Pelham after several months of declining health. He had been discharged from the hospital two days earlier into hospice care by his own choice and continued to participate in decision making once he was at home. Over those two days, he had the opportunity to talk with most of his immediate family members and several close friends, along with some of the valued caregivers who had been assisting him over the past months.

Born December 15, 1929 to Sol and Clara (Ostrager) Kwartler in Brooklyn, New York, Eli remained there through high school, college, and young adulthood. He experienced a traumatic and disruptive childhood. His father left when he was two, and his mother could not care for him due to her ill health. Eli began a journey through a number of relatives’ households. Along the way, he learned that reading opened doors to seeing other ways of living, and he spent much time in the public library, a practice he maintained until the end of his life. After a number of years and court battles, he returned to live with his father in a series of furnished rooms, earning his own income through busing dishes in Catskills hotels, guessing weights on Coney Island and hustling pool. Eli’s father did not approve of Eli’s aspiring to a college education, so, after graduating from high school in 1947, Eli joined the army to take advantage of the G.I. Bill.

The next few years were eventful. Eli entered and graduated from Pace College, where he majored in business; as a reservist, he was called up in 1950 during the Korean War to become a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne Division, but a medical condition kept him stateside right before deployment and led to his discharge.

He married Adele Behrman in 1950, and his daughter Karen was born in 1952, followed by his son Jonathan in 1953. Daughter Dianne was born in 1957. Work was hard to come by with the country in recession, and he worked many entry-level jobs until he was given an opportunity as a sales trainee at Eastern Corrugated Industries in Clifton, NJ, an hour and a half commute from his family in Brooklyn. Between 1955 and 1962, Eli moved upwards in the company, gaining financial independence from his in-laws, and moving the company first to Albany, NY, where it became Tri-City Container, and later to Northampton, MA, although the family resided in Longmeadow. Eli worked hard, often making grueling commutes, or driving great distances for sales and deliveries. He put in long hours to provide for his family, but he later acknowledged that his frequent absences did not allow him to be a good father and husband, and the result was a divorce from Adele in 1967.

Around this time, he began his first volunteer efforts, doing drug counseling with teenagers as well as working on a crisis hot line. He also took a trip to England and Scotland in 1969, his first trip abroad, traveling by himself just to see if he could do it. This trip and his adventurous spirit would eventually lead to exploring all 50 states, all seven continents and countries as diverse as North Korea, Iran, Papua New Guinea and Kazakhstan.

He began another journey when he was accepted in 1971 to the University of Massachusetts program in counseling, receiving an M.Ed. in 1973. He became chairman of the Hampshire United Way Board, and in 1975 moved into a house he had built in Pelham. That same year he met Barbara Jenkins, and the following year she and her four-year-old daughter Eve moved into the Pelham house with him. Tri-City Container had been bought out by a major conglomerate, Packaging Corporation of America (Tenneco), and Eli, feeling dissatisfied, left PCA to join Rand Whitney in 1980 as vice president and general manager.

After an abrupt departure from that company four years later, Eli could not find a position at his level locally, so he launched a consulting business, which he always described as frightening, but which led to success and enjoyment as he worked with companies across the United States and internationally throughout the ‘90s. He created and organized the Packaging Alliance Network, an alliance of independent container companies formed in order to compete successfully with giant national companies. He was always proud that he could gain the trust of competing companies throughout his consulting career, so that they did not fear his betraying their confidences.

In the ‘70s and into the ‘80s and ‘90s, he watched his children marry and gradually have their own children. In 1995, he and Barbara married. In 2000, he almost lost his life due to an allergic reaction to a blood plasma transfusion after hip surgery. He recovered enough so that one year later on 9/11, he heard news of the attacks while traveling in Tibet and then Vietnam. He continued to travel and he continued to have life-threatening accidents, illnesses and recoveries, so that all agreed he had lived his nine lives and more.

As his professional career wound down, he looked for continued meaningful opportunities to volunteer. He spent a month in Thailand working with a container company through a government agency that placed specialists internationally. He became involved in the town of Pelham first on the finance committee and then as a selectman, he became active in the Jewish Community of Amherst, eventually becoming co-president, he served on the boards of the Amherst Survival Center and the Literacy Project, and he was a counselor with SCORE advising start-up entrepreneurs. He was pleased to be able to help organizations, such as The Care Center in Holyoke, with financial gifts and took strong interest in fundraising for them and following their progress. During the last years of his life, he trained and worked weekly as a volunteer for SHINE, a program that provides free, one-on-one health insurance counseling to Medicare beneficiaries.

Eli is survived by his wife, Barbara Benda Jenkins, his son Jonathan Kwartler (Rochelle) of Cherry Hill, NJ; his daughter Dianne Jensen of Old Saybrook, CT; his stepdaughter Eve Jenkins (John Monch) of Takoma Park, MD; his grandchildren George Mock of Southwick, Kevin Mock (Cara) of Indian Orchard, David and Joshua Kwartler of Philadelphia PA, Megan Sher (Adam) of Falls Village, CT, Wesley Jensen of Groton, CT, and stepgrandchild Elliot Davey of Takoma Park; his great grandsons Eli and Noah Sher and Kevin Mock, Jr; his brother-in-law James Benda of Des Moines, Iowa and a number of other family members and dear friends. He was predeceased by his daughter Karen Harper in 2017.

Making it possible for Eli to stay in his own home as his health declined were members of the Cooley Dickinson VNA and Hospice teams along with caregivers from Homewatch Caregivers and Debcor Home Care.

Memorial gifts may be made in Eli’s name to SHINE Program, LifePath, Inc., 01 Munson Street, Suite 201, Greenfield, MA 01301, or to The Jewish Community of Amherst, 742 Main Street, Amherst, MA 01002.

David was born May 13, 1940 and died July 25, 2019 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. He grew up in Enfield, Connecticut and graduated from Fryeburg Academy in Fryeberg, Maine. He studied music at several institutions including Hartt School and the University of Massachusetts.

David was a gifted organist and keyboard player. He served as organist and choir director at several churches in Connecticut and Massachusetts. His first church in Western Mass was Wesley United Methodist Church where he served for approximately 10 years. He then moved to St. Brigid’s Roman Catholic Church where he served until his retirement in 2016. While at St. Brigid’s, he planned the music for masses, played all the masses, directed the choir, led the orchestra for St. Brigid’s Players, and composed much of the music for the Players. For the past two years he had come out of retirement to assist with music at Hope Church in Amherst.

In the last few years David became deeply committed to the homeless people in Amherst, providing shelter, food, and comfort. He was a fierce advocate for the rights of homeless people, spending hours seeking services for those in need and helping those who were struggling with addiction.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the St. Brigid’s Church in Amherst on August 13, 2019 at 10:00am followed by burial at St. Brigid’s Cemetery in Hadley. Following the services, a reception will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church in Hadley. A memorial celebration of life will be held at Hope Church on August 23, from 5-7pm.

George Melvin Wardlaw, 92, died at home on Friday morning, July 26th, after courageously battling prostate cancer for three years.

He was born at home in Baldwyn, Mississippi on April 9, 1927, and resided there until 1945. He was the son of Wiley and Lillie (Tapp) Wardlaw.

George attended Baldwyn High School until he joined the U.S. Navy in 1945. He graduated from Hospital Corp School in San Diego, California, and in 1946, he received an honorable discharge, at which time he moved back to Baldwyn. In 1947, he enrolled at the Memphis Academy of Arts on the GI Bill, where he graduated with a BFA in 1950. In 1952, he started teaching metal working at the University of Mississippi. He continued teaching there while he also attended Ole Miss until he received his MFA in 1955. He then went on to teach at Louisiana State University in 1955, the State University of New York in New Paltz from 1956-1963, Yale University from 1964-1968, and the University of Massachusetts in Amherst beginning in 1968, where he was the Chairman of the Art Department from 1971-1988. He then advised graduate students until he retired in 1990. During the summers from 1951 to 1964, George was the director of the metal crafts program at Tripp Lake Camp in Poland, Maine. While at SUNY New Paltz, he met the love of his life, Judy Spivack, and they were married in 1957.

Throughout his lifetime, George’s metal work, paintings, and sculptures were exhibited in many museums and galleries, including the Betty Parsons Gallery, the Allan Stone Gallery, and the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the National Gallery in Washington DC, the Memphis Brooks Museum, and the Courthouse Gallery in Maine. He was also commissioned to create large scale installations for the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Milwaukee and the Johnson Wax Corporation in Racine.

During retirement, George actively continued his career as an artist. He was passionate about his work which he continued until the very end. His most recent work will be shown at Herter Gallery at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, opening on September 25th. He also spent time caring for and playing with his grandchildren, who called him Papa George. As they grew, he attended as many of their musical, artistic, and athletic events as possible. He loved and supported his family and the arts and found interesting visual experiences wherever he went, enjoying the interaction of colors, textures, patterns, and shapes in his environment.

George was a devoted husband, son, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and friend. He was greatly loved and respected by all who had the good fortune of knowing and working with him. Everyone especially enjoyed his storytelling, sense of humor, and ability to remain positive, which served him until his final days. Family and friends describe him as creative, intelligent, inspirational, hard-working, ambitious, insightful, dedicated, generous, positive, equitable, welcoming, gentle, sweet, kind, and caring.

George is survived by his son Greg Wardlaw of Pelham, his wife Darlene, and their children Nate, Chris, and Virginia, his daughter Sarah Hodgkins of Amherst, her husband Donny and their children Jason, Daniel, and Jennifer, and his son Steven Wardlaw of Amherst, his wife Anna-Stina, and their children Zoe, Sam, and Isabel. His wife, Judy Spivack Wardlaw, died in 2008. His sister, Alice Marie, died at birth.

The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, VNA/Hospice of Cooley Dickinson Hospital, O’Connell Home Care, and the Douglass Funeral Home for their care and support. We also want to express our sincere gratitude to Lori Friedman and Kelsi Giguere for enabling him to realize his final paintings.

A private graveside ceremony was held at Wildwood Cemetery on July 30th. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 5th from 2-4pm at the Herter Art Gallery on Umass Amherst Campus. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the George M. Wardlaw Art Department Scholarship, c/o Julie Martel, Records and Gift Processing, Memorial Hall, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 134 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003.

Sheila Seaman passed away at home in Leverett on Saturday, July 27 after a long heroic battle with cancer. She was a beloved teacher and researcher at the University of Massachusetts. She was a volcanologist who studied active and extinct volcanoes in Iceland, Maine, Arizona, New Mexico, and Canada. She was an avid runner, gardener, protector of land, plants, and animals, and a serious Bruce Springsteen fan.

Sheila was born in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania to Terry and June Seaman. She attended Lewisburg Area High School and graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1979. She earned an M.S. from the University of Arizona and a Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico. She was a faculty member at Colgate University for five years and then was an Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor at the University of Massachusetts for 26 years. She was lauded as an enthusiastic teacher of mineralogy and petrology, as an entertaining story-teller, and as a compassionate advisor. She was a great public speaker; her geology talks were crowded with colleagues and students. Sheila was well known for her work on the geology of coastal Maine. She published numerous papers about volcanoes and the evolution of continental crust, the latest of which was submitted from her hospital bed in New York City.

Sheila was a passionate gardener who worked to provide natural habitat and colorful flowers, the larger and wilder the better. She was born to be outdoors. She loved all living things from the smallest of insects to the largest backyard bear, but she particularly loved her pet farm pigs, Herb and Gladys, and her many rescued cats. She helped to start the Homeless Cat Project of western Massachusetts and in her free time, trapped hundreds of feral cats for spay/neuter and resettlement. She rescued dogs, cats, turtles, frogs, and birds of every variety. She was a Board Member of the Rattlesnake Gutter Trust for more than 20 years, having been involved with the preservation of many parcels of land including her beloved East Leverett Meadow. Sheila was also an athlete who ran fifteen marathons and many half marathons. She lost several minutes on her Bay State Marathon time because she had to rescue stranded worms on the marathon route.

She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Michael Williams, her sister and closest friend, Stacy Doorn, by in-laws on both family sides, and by many nieces and nephews. Sheila is well known to all for her bright, compassionate, loving, always forgiving nature. Her family and friends will miss her incredible warmth and sharp sense of humor. Sheila loved life and left it far too early.

Please make donations to your favorite animal shelter or environmental charity or to one of her favorites: the Best Friends Animal Society, Kanab, Utah.

Janet Ann Burke, 82, passed away on June 26, 2019 at Care One in Northampton. She was born December 29, 1936 in Boston to the late George and Mary Tomlinson. Janet graduated from Weston High School in 1955 and eventually earned a Masters Degree in Psychology from UMass Boston.

Janet was an avid horsewoman since her youth, and in the 1980s, she participated in the Paralympics in Georgia as part of the equestrian team. Later, while living in Springfield, MA, Janet lobbied to make city sidewalks and buildings handicap accessible and volunteered for the local public television station.

Janet is survived by her sister, Ellie Tomlinson, her children and their spouses Karen and Ray Lemoine, Christopher Burke and Brenda Zavetterro, Kevin Burke and Jenna Konesko, and Keith Burke, her eight grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

Janet’s family would like to thank the staff at Care One in Northampton, Ascend Hospice, and her companion Dawn for their care and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, Janet would want you to donate to the local public television or radio station.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00pm on Sunday, July 14, 2019 at the Douglass Funeral Service in Amherst.

Robie Hubley, aged 81, died Thursday, June 27th at home in South Hadley, MA. The son of Bert A. and Hazel D. Hubley (Moser), Robie grew up in Waltham, MA, and learned the value of hard work at his father’s side in the family plastering business. At the family dinner table he learned the value of a good education while enjoying lively discussions of world events, science, philosophy, music, art, and history. Following graduation from UMass Amherst, he taught Biology and General Science at South Hadley High School, where he challenged convention by taking his students outside to explore the ponds on the school grounds. In 1964 he became Caretaker of the Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton, MA. He soon was appointed Director and made the Sanctuary blossom through the 1960’s and 70’s as a center of nature study, education and activism during the budding environmental movement.

Robie joined forces with the Connecticut River Watershed Council working to clean up the Connecticut River and its watershed, helping to stop the practice of dumping raw sewage and other pollutants into the river. He was instrumental in the closing of the old Northampton Dump, which was bulldozing burning trash into the Mill River up-stream of the Sanctuary. He also expanded the Sanctuary, preserving key acreage in the Northampton Meadows. He oversaw the creation of Arcadia’s visitor center in the 1970’s, rejuvenated the summer natural history day camp, and founded the Arcadia Nature Nursery School in 1976. The camp and school continue to gently educate children from pre-school to middle school to feel comfortable in, love, and protect the natural world.

Robie loved to share his ideas about the world and how to work within the system to get things done. He served as a member of Northampton’s Conservation Commission for many years and was instrumental in saving Fitzgerald Lake and Elwell Island in Northampton. He wrote his Master’s thesis on the diversity of bird species in the Northampton Meadows, identifying hundreds of species by song. He made upwards of a dozen films, some independent productions, some for The Nature Conservancy. He made films, not to head to Hollywood, but to help save the earth.

In the 1980’s, Robie became Massachusetts Audubon’s Legislative Director, (aka Chief Lobbyist), working with a team in the State House shepherding through key legislation with his quick mind, fluent grasp of politics, strategic fortitude, and sheer will. He wrote and was instrumental in the passage of the Inter-basin Transfer Act, which stopped the transfer of water from the Connecticut River to Boston, and he played a critical role in preventing the rerouting of Route 2 through Wendell State Forest. After retiring from his successful career with the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Robie was elected to the Amherst Selectboard in 2003, helping to guide the town he dearly loved. In that role he prioritized protection of designated conservation areas, historic sites, public school programs, and the acquisition of strategic areas that protected biodiversity.

Robie was an avid photographer amassing a slide collection of more than 10,000 slides of family and nature. He served as the family archivist, accumulating a rich variety of books, art, memorabilia and natural objects which he has now left to his children to manage. He took fierce pride in his children, played a mean folk guitar, and sang with friends for the sheer joy of it. He loved rock and classical music, kids, wild and domestic critters, and sharing good food with friends and family. He was a man of integrity who taught his children and hundreds of others, to love the earth, do good work, and live well…and he reminded us frequently that “The weather is always wonderful.” He had a wonderful life and often proclaimed as much, with arms open wide and a huge smile on his face.

Robie is survived by his wife Anne Awad, his sister Beth Thomson of North Reading, his brother Warren Hubley of Northampton, his first wife Judith Pierce of Pelham, his daughter Gale Hubley (husband Stanley Swiercz) of Pelham, his sons Lincoln Hubley of Haydenville and Dylan Nelson of Ann Arbor, MI, his granddaughters Jessica and Katharine Swiercz of Pelham, and his stepchildren Yusef Awad (wife Muthoni Magua) and Asha Santos (husband Kevin). He was predeceased by his brother Bert Hubley, Jr., and his dear friends Dr. Lincoln Brower and Terry Blunt.

A memorial celebration will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to the Massachusetts Audubon Society – Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary – Land Protection Fund, 127 Combs Road, Easthampton, MA 01027.

David J. Simpkins died June 30, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. Born August 25, 1943 to George and Anna (Luckabaugh) Simpkins, he grew up in Bristol, CT. He attended Edgewood School and graduated from Goodwin Technical High School in New Britain in 1961.

He enlisted in the United States Navy, serving 4 years and 4 months in Puerto Rico and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as an aircraft sheet metal repair technician. It was in the Navy that he mastered the skills he would use for the rest of his working life. Upon his discharge he returned to Bristol working in various jobs until becoming an iron worker. As an iron worker he helped build some of the most visible buildings in the New England area, to include the original ESPN building in Bristol as well as several structures at Bradley International Airport. After an injury ended his ability to sit the iron, he worked for Lauretano Sign as a welder/fabricator. One of his favorite things to do was drive around Connecticut and point to something and say “I built that.”

Raised in the era of the “Victory Garden,” upon his retirement he furthered his love of gardening and maintained nearly an acre of vegetables. As a member of South Congregational Church in Amherst he was active in canning, baking and other church events. He also supported Wounded Warrior Project, and donated fresh vegetables to the local homeless shelters. Known as Big Dave to those who loved him best, he will be remembered for his innate ability to fix or fabricate nearly anything, incredible story-telling, knack for cards, the ability to charm a room, and the love he had for his kids and grandkids.

Dave is survived by wife Judy Kremski, daughters Debra (Matthew) Thurlby, Donna (Todd) Salzillo, grandchildren Mellissa (Joseph) Gillmore, Anthony and Lauren Salzillo, and great-grandchildren Kiara and Milo Gillmore. Dave was predeceased by his parents, his younger brother Robert Simpkins, his wife Nancy Nadolski Simpkins, and his wife Nancy Edgington Simpkins.

Calling hours will be Friday, July 5, from 5-7pm at the Douglass Funeral Service in Amherst. A funeral service will be held at 11am on Saturday, July 6, at the South Congregational Church in Amherst, with burial to follow at the South Amherst Cemetery.

Frederick John DUDLEY was born on the 17th December,1930 in Glebe, New South Wales, Australia; he passed away Thursday, 20th June 2019, in Belchertown, Massachusetts. Fred was the only child of Allen Dean DUDLEY and Laura Pearl (Thurtell) DUDLEY. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving as a High Priest in his Ward. He attended Woy Woy Primary School and Gosford High School in N.S.W.

In 1949 he met and married the love of his life, Eunice Rose STOKES. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Ogden Utah Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They made their home initially in Woy Woy, N.S.W, then in Springfield, N.S.W., where they raised their three children, Jenny, Judi, and John. They later immigrated to the United States, living first in Utah, before moving to Belchertown, Massachusetts.

He was employed as a rigger for the N.S.W. Government Railways, then, as a deliveryman for George Evans Pty Ltd in Gosford, working his way up to become the manager of the company, for 30 years.

Fred was extremely talented and always creating or repairing something. He belonged to a now lost breed of capable men who could turn their hand to almost any task and achieve it. In early years, he constructed many handmade toys for his children, as well as creating intricate scale models. In later years he took up model building again, making a variety of ingenious, custom, creations. His talent was recently recognized at an Art Exhibition in Belchertown, MA.

He had wonderful memories of growing up in Woy Woy, often reminiscing about his youth, and how lucky he was to have had such a carefree life. But most often, he expressed how lucky he was to have been blessed with a wonderful family.

He was preceded in death by his ‘love’ of 69 years, Eunice Rose, his parents, Allen Dean and Laura Pearl DUDLEY, and one granddaughter, Tovah Rebekah SEPULVEDA.
He is survived by his three children: Jennifer Lee KING (Bob) of West Haven, Utah; Judith Denise DUDLEY-SEPULVEDA (Bert) of Hamilton, Missouri; and his son John Allen Frederick DUDLEY (Suzanne) of Belchertown, Massachusetts; 12 grandchildren: Travis King, Amber King, Simone Sepulveda, Adam (Melissa) Sepulveda, Pilar (Rory) Lester, Joshua (Nina) Sepulveda, Micah (Lori) Sepulveda Sacha Sepulveda, Domini (Kody) Sepulveda-Olson, Meg Dudley and Bronwyn Dudley.

He is also survived by 25 great grandchildren: Kaidance Rose King; Sophie Sepulveda; Gaven, Gage and Alexa Sepulveda; Marika and Kennidi Gerritsen; Logan and Korrigan Lester; Mikayla, Amalia and Noah Sepulveda; Gabriel, Joshua Jr and Sage Sepulveda; Kaden, Tallon, Ethan and Isabel Sepulveda; Morgan and Samuel Sepulveda; Ryland and Taelor Evans, and Sullivan Olson.

The most important part of Fred’s life was his family. He was a man of few words, preferring to stay in the background; he was a ‘fair dinkum Aussie’, proud of his heritage and will be missed by those who loved and admired him.

Internment and services to be held in Utah, at a date to be determined.

Lorraine M. Shaw, 84, of Springfield, MA passed away on June 27, 2019 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. She was born on May 8, 1935 in Rogersville, New Brunswick, Canada to the late Alcime and Gertrude Despres.
Lorraine will always be remembered as a God-loving woman. She loved to help and give to others. She was a member of the Church of Redemption of Agawam, MA.
Lorraine is survived by her sons, Richard and wife Diane, Fernand and Melissa Lafond, Darryl and wife Sandra, and Daniel. She is also survived by her brother Emery, sisters Derilla and Patricia, grandchildren Cassandra and Eric, and 3 great grandchildren.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, July 2, from 5-7pm at the Douglass Funeral Service in Amherst, with a prayer service beginning at 7pm. Burial will be at 10am on Wednesday, July 3 at the Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Elizabeth E. Elia (nee Elizabeth Iley Evans), age 57, in the town of Hadley, Massachusetts on the 22nd of June, 2019. She passed after a long illness, surrounded by her loving children Emily and James.

Elizabeth (“Liz”) was born on March 20, 1962 in Bethesda, Maryland, the daughter of Laurence Evans, PhD, and Elizabeth T. Evans, CPA. After leaving the DC area, the family moved briefly to Vancouver, British Colombia before finally settling in Vestal, New York where Liz made some of her dearest life-long friends.

Liz graduated from Vestal High School in 1980 and attended Hamilton College as a Classics major before transferring to McGill University in Montreal where she majored in English Literature. After graduating from McGill with a BA in 1984, Liz went to work as an editor at Workman Publishing in New York until deciding to pursue a master’s degree in English from the State University of New York at Binghamton (SUNY Binghamton/Binghamton University). She worked briefly as Director of Anniversary Gifts at Manhattan College before turning to her true calling: education. She entered and graduated from the MAT program at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, and thereafter pursued a career as a teacher at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, specializing in English, English Language Acquisition, and English Literature. She also volunteered with the nonprofit group Hope for Haiti, traveling to that country to fight poverty through education.

Liz was a remarkable teacher. Watching her interact with children was truly amazing. During her career she received many honors, awards and accolades, but none of these accomplishments were as important to her as that of being a mother to her daughter Emily T. Elia, a doctoral student in Comparative Political Science at Rice University, and her son James L. Elia, a junior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he is majoring in Biology. Her children were her pride and joy; her love for them was boundless.

In addition to her children, Elizabeth is survived by sister Cornelia Evans, brother-in-law Vladimir Shpitalnik and niece and nephew Alexandra and Liev, and by her brother Thomas Evans, sister-in-law Eliza Oquendo and nephew Sam.

Liz was a passionate woman who loved literature and poetry and who was filled with humor, which she readily shared with all around her. The family asks everyone who knew Liz to keep her in their hearts, remembering her laughter, her keen sense of humor, and her wish that we love generously, live fully, and try to appreciate the beauty of life “every, every minute.”

Services were held at Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church on Thursday, June 27th, 2019. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hope for Haiti (www.hopeforhaiti.com) to help them continue the work that was so important to Liz.