Elizabeth Zakowicz, 64, Teacher Who Introduced Computers to Young Children

An obituary from the Holmes Funeral Home:

Elizabeth “Libby” Britton Zakowicz, 64, died Thursday December 25t, 2014 at her home surrounded by her family. Born October 4th, 1950 in Rochester NY to Orson “Bud” Britton and Elizabeth “Betty” Baas Britton, both deceased.

Libby is survived by her husband of 39 years, Edward “Zak” Zakowicz, her children Adam (fiancée Elizabeth) of Redmond, WA, Stephen (Rebecca) of Reston, VA, Thomas of East Hartford, CT, and her grandson Caleb.

She also leaves her sisters Margaret Brown (William) of West Redding, CT, Kathryn Larsen (David) of Wilmington, VT, and her brother Thomas Britton (Linda) of Waikoloa Village, HI.

Libby graduated from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 1973 with her BA in Education. In June of 1974, while working at the University of Rochester, she met Zak.

Libby and Zak were married on August 23, 1975 and moved to Manchester, CT where she earned her Master’s Degree in Gifted and Talented Childhood Education at the University of Connecticut.

A passionate advocate for teaching technology to all students, she developed a curriculum for introducing computers to young children. This was at a time when personal computers were very new and only beginning to be explored as potential tools for education. She taught her curriculum at schools in Manchester and Lebanon including Manchester’s Early Childhood Learning Center.

Libby became an active member in the League of Women Voters when she moved to Manchester and developed many friendships through that association. She also loved all things “crafty” and worked in stained glass, carpentry and especially quilting. She loved games and puzzles and organized an annual event, the Games Marathon, which she and Zak hosted for 20 years.

Even after her illness made it difficult for her to quilt she still managed to crowd source a quilt which was auctioned off recently to benefit the John A. DeQuattro Cancer Center in Manchester.
Fueled by their mutual love of “hands on” construction, Libby helped Zak build major additions to their home in Manchester, and together they designed and built her dream log cabin in Massachusetts. She shared a passion for UConn Women’s basketball and was an avid gardener and reader.

In her later years, she worked part time with a local home decorator helping to finish off the interior decor of many homes in the Central Connecticut area.

More than anything Libby enjoyed spending time with her family, particularly her children and grandson. She relished family gatherings and the togetherness they provided. Her outgoing, friendly spirit and generosity will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved her.

All are welcome to join the family on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 at the Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main St., Manchester, CT 06040, (860) 643-2441 from 1 to 4:00 p.m. for a celebration of Libby’s life with Words of Remembrance at 3:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to: Interval House, P.O. Box 340207, Hartford, CT 06134-0207 or the John A. DeQuattro Cancer Center, 100 Haynes Street, Manchester, CT 06040. To leave a message for her family please visit www.holmes-watkinsfuneralhomes.com.