Elizabeth C. Richard

Elizabeth C. Richard of Riverhead died June 17 at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport. She was 83. 

She was born Sept. 19, 1931, on Staten Island to Claire (Connelly) and Albert Crabtree.

Ms. Richard earned her master’s degree from Stony Brook University in the late 1970s. She taught art at Aquebogue Elementary School and later, art, ceramics and photography at Riverhead High School. She also taught interior design in the community, while spending time on her interior design business.

Ms. Richard’s daughter, Anne, said she was “very involved in helping the Riverhead community.” Ms. Richard co-founded East End Arts Council,  where she served as the first executive director and was responsible for the “Art Train,” bringing works of art to local train stations. She served on the Riverhead Free Library board for many years. She was a longtime member of St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church in Riverhead.

Anne said her mother enjoyed “art;  traveling all over the world; visiting museums; taking photographs and talking about her children and grandchildren.”

Predeceased by her husband, James, in 2011 and her daughter, Mary, in 1998, she is survived by her sons, Peter, of Florida and Robert, of Washington State; her daughters, Anne, of Maryland and Christine Palmer of Jamesport; her sisters, Jane Stark of Aquebogue, Judith Duffy, of Westchester, N.Y. and Claire Crabtree of Detroit and seven grandchildren.

The family received visitors June 21 at Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service was held June 22 at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church in Riverhead, officiated by Father Larry Duncklee. Interment took place at the church cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to East End Arts Elizabeth Memorial Scholarship, 133 East Main St., Riverhead, NY 11901.