Anita Harwell Lupo of Wilmington, NC, passed away on June 6, 2021 after an extended illness. She was born Sept. 30, 1940 in Wetumpka, AL, and spent her childhood highly limited by a congenital heart ailment. Nonetheless, despite sporadic school attendance, she excelled in academic achievement.
In her sophomore year of high school, doctors performed an extremely dangerous surgery to address her heart ailment -- a procedure which no female patient had previously survived. However, she beat all the odds and went on to pursue her passion for learning. She received her bachelor's degree from Auburn University, then a master's and a doctorate in Education Administration from the University of Tennessee. After serving on the faculty of Virginia Tech in the 1970s, Anita went to Illinois State University, where she became a Meritorious Full Professor in Education Administration, Dean of the College of Education, and Dean of the College of Applied Science & Technology. She also served as Associate Vice President for Academic Personnel and Budgeting. During her years at ISU in the 1990s, she led a team of education administrators in an exchange program with Russia, and participated in a professional development program at Harvard University.
In 1979, Anita married John Joseph Lupo, and they became loving partners in their blended families. When she retired in 2000, they moved to North Carolina and enjoyed homes they loved in Wilmington and Blowing Rock. Her congenital heart ailment eventually resulted in her receiving a heart transplant at Duke University Medical Center in 2002. After the transplant, the couple enjoyed yearly travels, with trips across America, Europe, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Anita is survived by her husband of 42 years, John; sisters Glynda Vandiver and Janice Anderson; children Denise Harwell, Christine Mast (Tim), John M. Lupo (Robyn) and Stephanie Loredo (Alex); and grandchildren Olivia, Anabel, Matthew, Audrey, Sophia, Zachary and Clay.
Anita was a member of St. Andrews on the Sound in Wilmington, where the funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 6 at 2pm, followed by a reception. Share online condolences with the family at Coble Funeral and Cremation Service at Greenlawn Memorial Park (https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/wilmington-nc/anita-lupo-10222021).
In lieu of flowers, kindly donate to one of the many organizations which Anita generously supported, including the American Heart Association, Samaritan’s Purse, Good Shepherd Center and Duke University Transplant Center.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18