Beachwood Art Teacher 'Painted Beauty Into Each And Every Life'

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Lynne Tagliaferro noticed every student. She welcomed them to her classroom at Beachwood Elementary School, them under her wing and inspired them. This week, tributes have poured in for the Toms River woman, who died Oct. 12 after a battle with cancer. She was 57.

"Mrs. Tagliaferro was a revered member of our Beachwood family," Beachwood Principal Kim Muir said. "Her talent, grace, and compassionate soul reached many children and her passing leaves a void for us all." She said Tagliaferro "fought with great courage and strength her battle with cancer."

"Lynne was admired by all who knew her and adored by her students, in whom she encouraged artistic expression and personal growth," Toms River Schools Superintendent David M. Healy said Wednesday night at the district's Board of Education meeting, where the board and hundreds in attendance honored the beloved teacher. "Mrs. Tagliaferro's passing leaves a void for the school community and we continue keep her family in our prayers."

On the Beachwood Elementary School PTO Facebook page, where Muir's notice to the school community was shared Monday, a number of parents and friends spoke of the impact she had on students and the community.

"She did so much more than teach children art. She gave them confidence and gave them opportunities to show pride in their work," parent Karen Luff wrote. "She genuinely cared about each child and she will be missed."

"I was never any good at art but I was always excited to go to her class because of how warm and welcoming she was," wrote a Facebook poster named Amy Lynn. "She had a way of making our messy work seem like a masterpiece!"

"She always made me feel important and capable," Katie Marie wrote.

"Each year, Lynne took great pride in working with and identifying talented artists. She was proud to have their work displayed during Youth Art Month at the Ocean County Library," Healy said Wednesday.

"I had Mrs. Tagliaferro starting in 2001. I loved going to her class and making all the projects she gave us. She will be so missed," Madeline Melloy wrote.

"My daughter was so sad when I told her," Carrie Greiner said. "She just loved having her as her art teacher and my daughter made beautiful art pieces in her class."

Muir said the school community will be honoring Tagliaferro's legacy in several ways, including having the school's traditional fifth-grade tiles have a nature theme this year, because Tagliaferro loved the outdoors.

"This is often reflected in her beautiful artwork," Muir said in an email to Patch. "Our PTO and Lynne's art colleagues also have plans to do something special to memorialize her presence at Beachwood and the impact she has had on our students."

"It was an honor to work with Lynne Tagliaferro," Kelly Josberger wrote. "I always enjoyed watching her teach and loved the way she inspired children to creatively express themselves."

"She was truly one of a kind. A great big smile, a wonderful person with a heart of gold," Amanda Burkholder said.

"She did so much for our Beachwood bears and our Beachwood families. I know she is at peace but miss her so much. Much love to her family and know that we have an angel looking down from those beautiful painted skies," Robin DeMarsico wrote.

"She was truly talented and taken way too young," Kimberly Martin-Carles wrote. "Her legacy will live on in the hallways with all of our Bears' artwork that she inspired."

"Our family is heartbroken," Melanie Lynn wrote. "What a beautiful person inside and out. She painted beauty into each and every Bear's life."

Anyone who would like to send cards of condolence to the family can deliver them to the Beachwood Elementary School office, Muir said, and they will make sure they get to her husband and family.

In the tribute at the board meeting, Healy said Tagliaferro loved to spend tine with her grandchildren and loved to travel the world with her sister, exploring new places.

And, of course, she loved to paint. "The pieces she created were breathtaking. Her art is an expression of the beautiful, peaceful person she was," he said.

In her obituary on the Horizon Funeral Services website, her family said she was "an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, daughter and sister. She was an incredible artist and loved spending time with her family and friends."

Donations can be made in Tagliaferro's memory to the Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York (click here).

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Lynne Tagliaferro photo published with permission