Elizabeth H. Da Cunha-Koski

Elizabeth H. da Cunha-Koski, age 80, of 6075 Brook Road, Trumansburg, NY passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Lisa was born on August 22, 1934, in Deposit, NY, a daughter of Walter and Elsie Sundsted Herrala. She graduated from Interlaken High School and went on to SUNY Geneseo to graduate summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in education. She then taught English and history at Pittsford Jr. High for 2 years, after which she returned to Geneseo to work as assistant professor of education. In 1961 she received her M.A. in Bio-Anthropology from Indiana University in Bloomington where she met Carlos da Cunha from Argentina who was also studying there. They were married and moved to Buenos Aires where Lisa taught biology and earth science until 1965.The family then moved to Puerto Rico where Lisa taught history and science for two years. Finally, the family settled in New Rochelle, NY where Lisa raised four boys and taught science and social studies in the New Rochelle public schools. After her retirement in 1991, she continued to teach ESL and assist immigrants with obtaining citizenship. Following the death of her husband, Carlos, she returned to live in the Finger Lakes, and served as interim professor of sociology at FLCC in Geneva.

Returning to her roots in the area, Lisa became an active member of the Finger Lakes Finns, serving as its president for three years. It was here she met her husband Richard Koski with whom she enjoyed traveling all over the United States and Europe and accompanying him on his many musical activities with the Toivo band. Lisa was a prolific and sensitive poet, drawing inspiration from nature and the ups and downs of the human condition. Her passion for education, universal health care, world peace, and protecting the environment was very active, with many letters written, demonstrations marched in, and actions taken against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the Vietnam war, the U.S. secret wars in Central America, and the Iraq war. She was active in the Social Justice Council of the Ithaca Unitarian Church. In her final days, she was proud to have demonstrated to save her home area from the dangers of gas storage at Seneca Lake. She did not give up, and she was truly an inspiration.

Lisa is survived by her husband, Richard Koski of Trumansburg, NY; her sons Tristan da Cunha (Lori) of Bedford, NY, Michael and Carlos E. da Cunha of New Rochelle, NY, and Martin (Sandy) da Cunha of Holbrook, NY. Grandchildren include Alexandra, Joshua, Tristan, Sara, Christian, and Michael da Cunha. She is also survived by her husband's children, Jason (Sarah) Koski and their children, Ella and Margo of Trumansburg; Matthew (Tracy) Koski and their children, Dylan, Nathan, and Noah of Marysville, Ohio; and Karen Tucker and her son Tyler of Carrollton, VA; and the extended Koski family. Surviving also are her siblings Ruth Sehl of Clarence, NY, Gladys Maconeghy of Waterloo, NY, and Royce Herrala of Clifton Springs, NY.

Memorial services with reception and refreshments to follow will be held Saturday, March 28, at 11am at the Unitarian Church in Ithaca, corner of Buffalo and Aurora Streets. Burial will be at a later date at Grove Cemetery in Trumansburg. Memorial donations may be made to Hospicare in Ithaca or the Social Justice Council of the Unitarian Church in Ithaca.