OBITUARY

Elizabeth Mary Lawlor

January 27, 1967 – November 29, 2018

Elizabeth “Beth” Mary Lawlor was born January 27th, 1967. A lifelong Greenwich resident, she was a star student-athlete during her time at Greenwich High School. After graduating in 1985, Beth earned a full scholarship to attend Providence College where she was a starting forward for the Lady Friars basketball team and later competed in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament before graduating in 1989. Shortly after starting her teaching career she enrolled in a program of graduate studies at Fairfield University that led to the completion of a Masters in Education in teaching students with special needs. Simultaneous to her hiring as a special education teacher at Rippowam Middle School in Stamford, Beth also began her career as a coach of the field hockey and basketball teams - roles she performed with great success during her 10+ years of leadership.

Considered an institution at Rippowam Middle School, Beth was a leader within the Special Education team. She fostered decades long connections with peers and students alike. She gave of her time as both a union representative and an assistant to various athletic teams. Her colleagues and administrators will remember her as a person of unwavering dependability and kindness whose calm demeanor and penchant for levity could defuse even the most stressful situations.

To her family Beth was a beloved daughter, sister, and aunt. She devoted years of her life to the care of her parents, William and Grace - William until his passing in 2005 and Grace until she passed in 2014. On any given afternoon Beth could usually be found walking around Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. She would walk for miles around the park regardless of the season, often accompanied by a sister, brother, or niece. She played tennis and frequently cared for the children of her nieces and nephews during her free time. Beth was never one to sit still for long; an early riser, she would usually wake before sunrise and arrive early to work where she enjoyed being able work in solitude before the halls filled with students.

Elizabeth Lawlor is survived by her siblings and their immediate families: Eldest sibling, Margery Tymula and her husband Ronald, their daughter Abigail Miranda, son-in law Joseph, and grandson Levi, and youngest child Matthew Tymula; sister Grace Woytowicz and husband John, their daughters Kate Suscovich, son-in-law John, and granddaughter Mabel, youngest daughter Erin O’Brien and son-in-law Joe, and grandchildren Adam and Grace; brother William Lawlor III and his partner Leann Vadala; brother Patrick Lawlor, his sons Liam and Aiden and their mother Sara; and youngest brother Thomas Lawlor, his partner Eileen Finn, and her daughters Kaitlin and Bridget Melsenti.

Elizabeth Lawlor was a pillar of communities in both Greenwich and Stamford. As probably the greatest tribute to a life well-lived, almost everyone who knew and loved Beth has spent the last week asking themselves, “What are we going to do without her?” May she rest in peace.

Calling hours will occur on Thursday, December 6th from 3-7pm at Leo. P Gallagher & Son Funeral Home - 31 Arch Street Greenwich, CT 06830. A memorial mass will be held privately. In lieu of flowers Elizabeth’s family is asking that people make contributions to Kids in Crisis in Cos Cob.

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REMEMBERING

Elizabeth Mary Lawlor

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sheila bragg

December 7, 2018

Yesterday I said goodbye to you... This morning I said Liz why were we friends? WHY ME? You are were everything I am not.. Yet every memory and every thing we talked about we became more and more like sisters.(even your neighbor asked us in CVS...LoL) You taught me to be a better person Liz to laugh instead of cry , to stay silent instead of fight and to be ok with just being me ... We had so much fun at the Cape , Block Island , splitting dinners , sharing family stories, discussing the perfect spot to retire, walking the beach in Greenwich or just making plans that never unfolded. "ABSOLUTELY" ... "Stay in touch",,,," What are we doing????...I still hear your voice...or you asking " what are you having for dinner?" So much of you Liz still surrounding my thoughts . A smile, a giggle a quick wave at the red light to beat the traffic out of Rippowam .. You knew the importance of living out your faith ..to love family, to help the people in need and to accept everyone.. So now its not what will I do without you?? I change it Liz to .. What would Liz do?? I Love you Liz and so thankful for our friendship.

Shanya Hilliard

December 6, 2018

To the Family,

Sorry I could not make it to the services today! I send my deepest sympathies all the way from Maryland! My teammate Liz from Providence College will be missed. RIP.

Andrea Robinson (Mangum)

December 6, 2018

I was so sorry to hear of Liz's death and I want to express my sincere sympathy to the family during this difficult time. Liz was a highly valuable, hilarious and respected member of our Lady Friar team. Liz was a wonderful teammate who understood the meaning of "team." She was always more focused on the good of the team than on her own benefit. For those of us that had the privilege of calling her "teammate/friend" on and off the court, we were humbled by her kindness and compassion.
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you guys during this sad and difficult time.

Rest Easy O Capitain! OUR Capitain... Love, "Candi"

Francia Arriaga

December 6, 2018

Mrs. Lawlor was one of my Top favorite teachers she was nice, caring, and awesome. she helped me go through everything while she was here she still is in this school just in everyone's hearts.

Jan Rossman

December 5, 2018

Words cannot express how shocked and saddened I am to hear of the passing of Liz. I would like to express my sincere sympathy to your family. Liz was a dedicated teacher who was admired and respected by her colleagues, students and parents. She always greeted you with a smile and was eager to help in any way she could. She will be missed by all who knew her.

With sincere sympathy,
Jan Rossman

Ajsi Cako

December 4, 2018

Ms.Lawlor was a very supportive teacher she would always encourage the kids in cross country . You could talk to her about everything . She will be missed dearly at Rippowam

-Ajsi Çako

Rest easy

Aldo Franco

December 4, 2018

Mrs . Lawlor was a very nice teacher to us all and she will never be forgotten in rippowam. I hope she is im a better place now


-Aldo Franco

R.I.P

Ann Marie Kennedy Kapfhammer

December 4, 2018

Like Shanya, I too was blessed with the chance to play basketball at Providence College with Liz....she was a Senior when I was a Freshman. The news of her passing is just devastating....way too young. There is one thing that I will never forget about Liz and that was her laugh. She had such a great laugh and just hearing it made everyone else laugh. I am sure that she is spreading that joy now with others. May God Bless the entire Lawlor family during these difficult times.

Mark Manero

December 4, 2018

Very sad to hear about Liz, she had to be one of the greatest athletes and more , one of the nicest human beings I knew. Never a sad face, never a frown all at Greenwich high, and all,the years since we graduated , when I saw her. She was a bright spot in life. She will be very missed. A great person, a great talent. Very sorry.

Maria DeVito

December 3, 2018

To Liz’s Family,
I had the privilege of working alongside your beloved sister and aunt as her co-teacher at Rippowam Middle School. We taught the same students in the same classroom, at the same time, for many years. While there was a formality about her that made Ms. Lawlor the consumate professional, an educator who insisted on manners, eye contact, and the student at the center; there was also a charisma about Liz that drew others forward, wanting to count her among their friends. Indeed the saddest day of my career came this past Friday when, on instinct, I turned to my right to say the routine “Ms. Lawlor, something to add?”...and Liz was not there. The pain in my heart is as large as the distance between our doors.
Though it is hard to believe she is gone, it is even harder to believe I had the good fortune of knowing Liz in the first place. Only Liz would listen to my full round of debrief of a meeting, or compliment me on a letter. Our lesson planning could span days. Equally, her interest in my adventures in marriage and children was sincere. It must have been divine intervention that our last day together we told eachother, for what may have been the 300th time, how much we loved working together, how we wished we could co-teach for all five of our classes if not the rest of our careers.
Grace, Marj, and family - Liz and I started countless mornings with news of the fun you had together. She beamed when she talked about you. My heart breaks knowing there won’t be another pizza dinner for your family to enjoy in her company. I feel so sad knowing that Mae will never have another trip to the playground or sleep over with her Aunt Beth, or that Marj will not be able to celebrate another birthday milestone. I will miss hearing about Grace’s pre-school and Adam’s boundless energy. If it is a comfort, please know that your sister carried the pride of your family everywhere. You were her world.
May your faith bring you peace.
Maria DeVito

IN THE CARE OF

Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home
Greenwich, CT
203-869-1513