Michele Lish, South Salem educator, was 69

Michele Leibowitz Lish, 69, died on June 27 after a brief illness. The South Salem woman had been an educator in Mount Vernon, and was active in the community.

Born Aug. 12, 1955, she spent the first 35 years of her life in Brooklyn. She attended Sheepshead Bay High School and went on to receive undergraduate and graduate degrees in early childhood education from Brooklyn College. She was an educator at Graham Elementary School in Mount Vernon. 

She married John Lish of Scarsdale in 1990. The family moved to South Salem in 2000.

Over the following 25 years, Lish was an active member of the community, volunteering and attending local events. Despite losing her husband and mother on the same day in 2016, her spirit remained strong, her family said. They said her “smile, laughter and warmth will be missed.” 

She is survived by her daughter, Samantha, and sister, Lorraine. She was predeceased by her husband, John, and parents, Celia and Jack. 

A private service was held June 29. Memorial donations may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at bcrf.org.