Elizabeth “Liza” Lee, a longtime independent-school educator and former headmistress of The Hockaday School in Dallas, has died, prompting an outpouring of remembrance from the Hockaday community and others who were influenced by her career in education.
Lee spent decades working in independent education, with much of her professional legacy connected to school leadership, girls’ education and service to educational institutions.
Her relationship with The Hockaday School was particularly significant. She served as headmistress for 14 years before later returning to the Dallas school in an interim leadership role.
Liza Lee and Her Long Association With Hockaday
Elizabeth “Liza” Lee served as headmistress of The Hockaday School from 1990 to 2004.
Her tenure represented an important period in the history of the Dallas independent school, where she worked with students, educators, families and administrators.
More than a decade after completing her original term as headmistress, Lee returned to Hockaday as interim headmistress from 2015 to 2017.
That second period of leadership extended a relationship with the school that lasted for decades and helped reinforce her connection to generations of the Hockaday community.
Following news of her death, former students, educators and others connected to the school have been reflecting on her contribution and influence.
A Career Spanning Nearly Four Decades
Lee’s work in education extended well beyond Hockaday.
Over a career spanning nearly four decades, she held leadership positions at several independent schools and became known for her experience in school administration and governance.
Among the institutions associated with her career was the Columbus School for Girls in Ohio, where she served as head of school.
She also took on interim leadership responsibilities at schools including Trinity Episcopal School in Austin and institutions in Charleston, South Carolina.
These roles placed Lee in a variety of educational communities while allowing her to continue working in school leadership.
Liza Lee’s Leadership in Girls’ Education
A significant part of Lee’s professional legacy was her connection to girls’ education.
Independent schools serving girls have historically relied on leaders who combine academic administration with broader advocacy for educational opportunities, mentorship and institutional development.
Lee’s career included work connected to those areas, as well as service on boards of independent schools and leadership roles within organizations supporting girls’ education.
Her influence therefore extended beyond the schools where she served as head.
Through governance, mentorship and professional leadership, she became part of a wider independent-school community.
Elizabeth Liza Lee Obituary Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Elizabeth “Liza” Lee |
| Known for | Independent-school educator and school leader |
| Hockaday role | Headmistress, 1990–2004 |
| Later Hockaday role | Interim headmistress, 2015–2017 |
| Other leadership | Columbus School for Girls and interim school leadership roles |
| Career | Nearly four decades in education |
| Age | Not established in reliable information reviewed |
| Cause of death | Not disclosed |
| Family details | Limited publicly available information |
| Funeral arrangements | Not provided |
Hockaday Community Remembers a Former Leader
The Hockaday School has acknowledged Lee’s death and remembered the legacy she established during her years with the institution.
For former students, faculty members and school administrators, her connection to Hockaday represents more than a position held on a professional résumé.
School leaders can influence an institution through decisions made during their tenure, relationships built with students and teachers, and the traditions and priorities that continue after they leave.
Lee’s return to Hockaday between 2015 and 2017 further demonstrated the enduring connection she maintained with the school.
The community is now looking back on those years as part of her broader contribution to education.
A Legacy That Extended Beyond One School
Lee’s professional impact was not limited to a single institution.
Her leadership positions at independent schools in different parts of the country gave her experience across multiple educational communities.
Her work on school boards and with organizations supporting independent education also allowed her to contribute outside the day-to-day responsibilities of running a school.
That combination of school leadership, governance and advocacy formed an important part of her professional life.
For colleagues and former students, those years of service provide a lasting way to remember her.
Will and Liza Lee Center at UT Southwestern
Lee’s legacy in Dallas is also connected to the Will and Liza Lee Center for Liver Disease and Transplant Research at UT Southwestern.
The center, established in 2026, recognizes Elizabeth “Liza” Lee and her husband, Dr. William M. Lee, and reflects contributions associated with education, medicine and service in the Dallas community.
The center provides another public connection to the Lee family’s legacy and represents an enduring recognition of their contributions.
Liza Lee’s Cause of Death and Funeral Details
Reliable information reviewed for this obituary does not establish Lee’s age or provide a confirmed cause of death.
Details concerning her private family circumstances and funeral or memorial arrangements have also not been made available in the information currently being reported.
No particular illness or medical condition should be attributed to her death without confirmation from her family or another appropriate source.
If additional arrangements or biographical information are announced, they can provide a fuller picture of how Lee’s family, former students and colleagues plan to honor her.
Remembering Elizabeth “Liza” Lee
Elizabeth “Liza” Lee leaves behind a professional legacy rooted in education and institutional leadership.
Her years at The Hockaday School, including her long tenure as headmistress and later return as interim headmistress, form a particularly important part of that legacy.
But her career reached considerably further, encompassing school leadership, governance, mentorship and advocacy for girls’ education.
For the people who encountered her throughout those years, her influence will be remembered through the schools she served and the educational communities she helped lead.
As the Hockaday community and others mourn her passing, Elizabeth “Liza” Lee is being remembered for a career devoted to education and for a connection to independent schools that lasted across generations.
Disclaimer
This obituary is based on information concerning the death of Elizabeth “Liza” Lee, a longtime independent-school educator and former headmistress of The Hockaday School. The available information establishes her professional history, including her Hockaday leadership from 1990 to 2004 and interim role from 2015 to 2017, but does not establish her age or cause of death. Detailed private family information and funeral arrangements were also not available. No unsupported circumstances should be attributed to her passing without confirmation from her family or another reliable source.