Lynne A. Shoemaker

Lynne Arnold Shoemaker

January 3, 1943 - September 4, 2026

Lynne Shoemaker of Manahawkin, NJ, passed away on September 4, 2026 after fighting a brave battle with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Born on January 3, 1943, to Howard and Mary Bandy, Lynne was a passionate advocate for environmental conservation, dedicated educator, avid hunter, and world traveler. She left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her and loved sharing her kitchen table with her family and many friends.

After earning degrees in Biology (B.S,. Stockton) and Ecology (M.S., Rutgers), Lynne taught Biology at Soutern Regional High School for over 20 years, where she led initiatives to integrate environmental awareness into the cirriculum. Affectionately known as the "Snake Lady," her classroom was filled with live snakes, fossils gathered across North America, and an extensive collection of animal skulls and rare insects that brought science to life for generations of students. Beyond high school education, Lynne taught at Ocean County College, Rutgers University-Camden, and the New Jersey Governor's School on the Enviroment. Her excellence in teaching earned her the Presidental Award for Science Teaching (NJ) and the National Association of Biology Teachers Award for Outstanding Biology Teacher (NJ).

Her research and conservation work took her around the globe, studying bats in Costa Rica, frogs in Trinidad, and rainforest ecosystems in Borneo. She traveled to Siberia to support local environmental education, completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Japan, and led workshops for high school teachers as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow.

Lynne shared a love of hunting and fishing with her husband, BIll. Together, they made annual trips to Canada, Alaska, and New Zealand in pursuit of game and fish.

Lynne is survived by her husband, William E. Shoemaker; her brother, John Bandy, and sister-in-law, Cecily; her children, Russell Chase and his wife Susan, Molly Chase and her partner Lydia, Victoria Chase and her husband Michael Walters, William Shoemaker Jr., Kimberly Shoemaker, and David Shoemaker; her grandchildren, Jessica, Morgan, Reid, Parker, Logan, Acadia, Nathaniel, Rebecca, Amanda, Jennifer, and Renn; her nieces, Mary, Anne, and Laura; and her great-children. She was predeceased by her brother William Bandy.

A celebration of Lynne's life will be held at Thos L. Shinn Funeral Home, 10 Hilliard Drive, Manahawkin, NJ 08050 on Tuesday, October 13, from 11am-1pm

Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to: Rainforest Action Network or Association for Women in Science (Links below)

To leave online condolences and fond memories of Lynne for the family, please visit www.shinnfuneralhome.com