Elizabeth Schneck Palter, age 84, of Providence and East Greenwich, RI, died peacefully September 2, 2025 at HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence, with her favorite jazz music in the background.
Elizabeth was born on January 8, 1941 in Flushing, NY, to Mary Weiser Schneck, of Philadelphia, and Emerick C. Schneck, from Budapest, Hungary. Elizabeth was raised, along with her sister, Deborah Schneck-DePippo, on a large property in the western Berkshires of Massachusetts. Her parents, both artists and designers, ensured that no moment was wasted in maintaining and working towards an ever-expanding series of projects: a coffee shop and art gallery in the barn, publication of their father's charts and books, etc. The 30-odd acre land parcel preserved by the family through decades recently became a destination for walkers and hikers, and is known as Ashley Falls Woods. It was through Elizabeth's efforts with The Sheffield Land Trust that this became a reality - and remains a beautiful way to remember her and her family.
Elizabeth completed a bachelor's degree at UMass Amherst, a master's degree at Brown University and a Ph.D. in American Politics and Public Policy at UMass Amherst. She taught political science at Bryant College in the early 1970's and moved with her daughter, Lisa, to Providence, RI in 1977, taking a job as Federal Grants Programs Director at the RI Department of Education, thus beginning a long career in grant and development work. She worked as a Development Director at CCRI, Penn State University and Roger Williams College before joining the Lexington Organizational Group as a Sr. Consultant for several years. In 1992, Elizabeth joined Bunker Hill Community College rising to Dean of the Office of Grants and Contracts. In 1999, she joined Bristol Community College, retiring from there in 2005.
Elizabeth never stopped learning and working to support the causes she felt so strongly about. Her love of nature and strong drive to protect the rights of others was exemplified by her many contributions to organizations in Rhode Island. She served as the Chair of the RI Chapter of the Sierra Club for many years, and served on the Board of Directors of Amnesty International Group 49, RI Human Services Coalition, Hosteling International, RI Committee for the Humanities, Women's Development Corporation, Mental Health Association of RI and the RI Women's Health Collective. Elizabeth was instrumental in drafting RI's "Financial Exploitation of Elders and Dependent Persons Act," which was passed in 2014. She completed a RISD Certificate in Drawing in Painting in 2014 and regularly took classes at the Lifelong Learning Institute. Elizabeth was a longtime member of the First Unitarian Church in Providence, RI's Progressive Democrats and numerous book clubs. After she retired, Elizabeth was able to travel more and spoke often of her wonderful trips to Italy, Hungary, Austria, Ireland and the Netherlands.
From 2019 to 2021, Elizabeth moved to Mill Valley, California to be closer to her daughter and growing grandchildren. Although her declining health and the complications of the COVID pandemic impacted her ability to do as much as she had hoped, she loved her time in California. In 2021, the entire family relocated to Rhode Island.
One of Elizabeth's joys was music. While serving as Executive Director of the CCRI Foundation, she ensured that the school's new Bobby Hackett Theater had a successful launch, producing a series of concerts featuring many of the world's most renowned jazz musicians (Bobby Hackett, Pee Wee Erwin, Doc Cheatham, Dave McKenna and others). She was also an avid reader (and notetaker!) and loved good movies - especially anything with Gene Wilder or Carl Reiner.
Elizabeth was married to Michael H. Palter (1941-2021) from 1965 to 1971. They met while working on the UMass newspaper and together founded Synthesis, an organization for peace and disarmament. Their daughter, Lisa A. Palter, was born in 1966. Elizabeth leaves behind her daughter, Lisa, her son-in-law, Edwin DeShazo, her two grandchildren, Olivia Louise DeShazo and Zachary Weiser DeShazo, her sister, Deborah, her two nephews, William Emerick DePippo and John Anthony DePippo, and many extended family members and friends. A memorial service will take place on Friday, October 24, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the First Unitarian Church, One Benevolent Street, Providence, RI. (Reception to follow.)
In lieu of flowers, donations in Elizabeth's name may be made to the Sierra Club (click on link or mail to: Sierra Club Fdn., 2101 Webster St., Ste. 1250, Oakland, CA 94612. Write "General Support" in the memo and include Elizabeth's name.)