Elizabeth “Liza” Lee, a respected educator and longtime leader of The Hockaday School, died on September 12, 2026, leaving behind a legacy that spans decades of independent education and generations of students.
Lee served as Eugene McDermott Headmistress of The Hockaday School from 1990 to 2004 before returning to the Dallas school as Interim Headmistress from 2015 to 2017.
Across her career, she became known for educational leadership, institutional development and a personal approach that made students, colleagues and members of the wider school community feel valued.
Her death has prompted remembrance from people whose educational experiences and professional lives were influenced by her work.
Liza Lee’s Leadership at The Hockaday School
Lee’s most significant connection was with The Hockaday School, where she held its top leadership position for more than a decade.
As headmistress from 1990 through 2004, she helped oversee a period of development at the school. Her leadership included efforts to expand diversity and changes to the academic structure, including the introduction of block scheduling.
She also supported modernization across areas including science, mathematics, technology, arts and engineering.
Her influence continued beyond her first tenure. When she returned as interim headmistress in 2015, she helped guide the school through another important period, including the completion of its Centennial Campaign.
The Liza Lee Academic Research Center
One of the enduring institutions associated with Lee’s leadership is the Liza Lee Academic Research Center.
During her earlier tenure, Lee led The Hockaday Tomorrow Campaign, an initiative that supported investments in technology and helped establish the research center that would later carry her name.
Her later return to Hockaday also included work on programs designed to connect students with the wider community.
Among those initiatives was a service-learning program that emphasized community engagement and gave students opportunities to connect their education with service.
Elizabeth Liza Lee Obituary Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Elizabeth “Liza” Lee |
| Date of death | September 12, 2026 |
| Age | Not stated in the available information |
| Known for | Educator and school leader |
| Hockaday leadership | Eugene McDermott Headmistress, 1990–2004 |
| Later Hockaday role | Interim Headmistress, 2015–2017 |
| Birthplace / upbringing | New York City |
| Education | The Brearley School, Mount Holyoke College and Columbia University |
| Spouse | William M. Lee, M.D. |
| Children | Ted, Matthew and Caroline |
| Grandchildren | Arthur, Lorenzo, George, Ellie and Henry |
| Memorial service | October 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. |
| Memorial location | The Hockaday School’s Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family Theater |
Education Shaped Liza Lee’s Career
Lee’s career in education began in New York, where she grew up and attended The Brearley School, graduating in 1961.
She later earned a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College and a Master of Arts from Columbia University.
Her professional relationship with Brearley extended well beyond her years as a student. She spent more than two decades at the school and held a number of leadership positions there.
That early experience became the foundation for a career that eventually took her into leadership roles at independent schools across the United States.
Leadership Beyond Hockaday
Lee’s work in education extended beyond Dallas.
She served as a leader at the Columbus School for Girls in Ohio and later took on interim head positions at several schools.
Her professional service also included participation on educational and community boards.
She held leadership roles with national organizations representing independent schools, giving her an influence that extended beyond the individual institutions where she worked.
Her career therefore combined school-level leadership with broader involvement in the independent education community.
Remembered for Leadership and Compassion
Those who knew Liza Lee remembered more than her administrative accomplishments.
Former students and colleagues described her as a leader who maintained a personal connection with the people around her.
That combination of institutional leadership and personal attention became an important part of how she was remembered.
For students, teachers and colleagues, her impact was not limited to policies or programs. The relationships she formed also became part of her legacy.
Family Mourns Elizabeth Liza Lee
Lee is survived by her husband, William M. Lee, M.D., and their children, Ted, Matthew and Caroline.
She also leaves five grandchildren: Arthur, Lorenzo, George, Ellie and Henry.
For her family, her death represents a personal loss that extends beyond the professional legacy recognized by schools and former students.
The memories created within her family will remain another important part of the life she leaves behind.
Memorial Service for Liza Lee
A memorial service for Elizabeth “Liza” Lee is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
The service will be held at The Hockaday School’s Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family Theater.
A reception will follow at the Liza Lee Academic Research Center, the Hockaday facility that bears her name.
The memorial will provide former students, educators, colleagues, family members and members of the Hockaday community an opportunity to gather and remember her life and contribution to education.
A Lasting Educational Legacy
Liza Lee’s career left a lasting mark on the institutions and people she served.
At Hockaday, her leadership included academic modernization, diversity initiatives, technology investments, community service and major institutional campaigns.
Her influence also reached beyond one school through her work at other independent schools and national educational organizations.
Yet the tributes surrounding her death suggest that her legacy cannot be measured only through programs and buildings.
The students she encouraged, educators she worked alongside and communities she served remain an important part of the story of her life.
Elizabeth “Liza” Lee leaves behind a legacy rooted in education, leadership and service. Her work helped shape institutions while her personal approach left lasting impressions on the people within them.
As family, former students, colleagues and the Hockaday community mourn her passing, she will be remembered for the generations of people she influenced and the educational values she helped advance.
Disclaimer
This obituary is based on information concerning the death of Elizabeth “Liza” Lee on September 12, 2026. The available information identifies her as an educator and longtime leader of The Hockaday School and provides details about her career, family and memorial service. Her exact age and cause of death were not stated in the information provided and should not be inferred without confirmation from her family or another reliable source.