Gail M Elias

April 9,1938 to February 16, 2026

Gail Greenway Elias was born April 9,1938 in Brooklyn, NY to her parents Marion McDonald Greenway and Edwin Harrod Greenway. Early childhood was spent in Brooklyn where she attended PS 75 (the very same school her mother had attended.)

Her fondest childhood memories were spent with her sisters and her beloved grandparents in Blue Point Long Island enjoying the beach, neighborhoods, and family.

Gail graduated from Oceanside High School in New York 1956. She and her identical twin sister Edwina went on to Southern Seminary and Junior College in Buena Vista Virginia where she graduated in1958.

She returned to New York where she met the love of her life Eugene Henri Elias (Gene) on Halloween 1958 and soon married on February 6, 1960, in New York City.

Gail and Gene remained in New York for the births of their daughters Pamela and Margot and then moved to Lincoln, Massachusetts in 1968, where son Eugene, Jr. was born. Gail earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Framingham State College in 1978. Shortly after,the family moved to Tequesta, FL where she began teaching middle school in Indiantown, simultaneously earning her Master of Arts in Education from Florida Atlantic University in 1988. Gail continued to further her education with her Media Specialist Certification from Nova Southeastern University in 1997.

Gail spent her life both learning and teaching in and out of the classroom. At the age of 49, she moved to Frankfurt, West Germany with her husband and son where she and Gene spent seven years living, traveling, and experiencing the world. She taught middle school at the American military base in Frankfurt, West Germany. Her curiosity, love of learning and adventure were ever present in her life: from traveling behind the Iron Curtain in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, East Germany or later to faraway places such as Russia, Turkey, Australia and Seoul, Korea where Gene had served during the Korean War.

Gail created and shared with the world her life experiences and passion for making each day better whether that be with friends, students or her husband, children and grandchildren. She was energetic and tireless in her quest to learn, her passion for reading, needlepointing, art, and her philanthropic spirit. She impressively volunteered her entire life. After an accomplished career as an educator, she transitioned to the prestigious position of docent at The Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida. Her insights and expertise during her many tours over many years illuminated world-renowned exhibitions and art for all ages.

She was the consummate hostess; if you were lucky enough to get invited to one of her coveted dinner parties featuring her artfully designed tables, her chef level cooking skills and lively conversation, you could get a glimpse at her passion, wit, and humor. There was nothing, however, she was more passionate about than her family. She was a loyal, dedicated and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend. Being together, developing relationships and sharing her love was especially felt on birthdays when she would kiss her children and grandchildren the number of years of their new age.

Gail was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Eugene Henri Elias, Sr. Gail is survived by her older sister Maryjeanne Greenway Flynn, her identical twin sister Edwina Greenway Neumann, her three children Pamela Greenway Harrington, Margot Elias Larkin (Paul), and Eugene Henri Elias, Jr. (Vanessa), and her seven grandchildren

Oliver (Sandra), Emma, Walter, Chloe, Mia, William, and Libby.

The memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 12pm at Saint Anthony Catholic Church (901 NE 2nd St, Fort Lauderdale, FL). There will be a private burial on Monday, March 16, 2026, for Gail to join her husband Gene at the South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth, FL.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Gail's name to:

Dementia Society of America

1-800-DEMENTIA

Dementiasociety.org