[Editor’s Note: On Friday, Metrowest Daily News reported that the St. Mark’s School community is in mourning after the sudden death of their Dean of Students — Liz Agosto. You can read that story here.
I missed being able to share the obituary below before the services were held, but the Funeral Home posted a link to a video from the livestream.]
Elizabeth Lee Agosto, 45, whose boundless love, infectious laugh, and extraordinary ability to create family wherever she went, passed suddenly on the morning of Thursday, October 31st, 2024 in Southborough, MA.
Liz’s passion for learning and helping others defined her remarkable life from the very beginning. Born on June 30, 1979, she shared an unshakeable bond with her beloved sister Jasmine from their earliest days together. The sisters, guided by their mother’s nurturing spirit, formed a tight-knit trio that would shape Liz’s understanding of unconditional love and family. She approached each day with curiosity and compassion that touched everyone around her. To say she loved learning is an understatement – it was who she was. She absorbed thoughts, ideas, and experiences at every opportunity, whether in everyday interactions, books, or just moving through life. Her special way of engaging with the world led her to examine circumstances from multiple points of view, always considering how to make spaces more welcoming and inclusive for everyone.
Her brilliant mind and caring heart, carried her to Dartmouth College through early entry, where she completed her undergraduate degree in sociology in 2001. She received her master’s degree in sociology at Fordham University before returning to Dartmouth College as a Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs. There, she created lasting impacts through mentoring programs and improvements to student culture and safety. In 2019, she brought her gifts to Amherst College as Dean of Students and, most recently, in July 2023, served as Dean of Students at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, MA, where she continued her lifelong commitment to nurturing and educating others.
What made Liz truly extraordinary was her ability to transform every space she entered into a home and every group into a family. Her infectious laugh and radiant smile could light up any room, and she had an uncanny ability to make everyone feel seen, heard, and valued, just as she had always done. She delighted in life’s simple pleasures – from bad movies to unusual animals – and shared that joy generously with others. Her profound love for family, both given and chosen, created an ever-expanding circle of people who felt embraced by her warmth and acceptance.
She is survived by her mother Melissa Cruz, stepfather Miguel Cruz Sr., stepbrother Miguel Cruz Jr., and Katie Merrill, all of VT; her sister Jasmine Agosto and beloved niece, Annalisse Santana of Connecticut; her aunt Vera Toro and wife Diane Martell and their daughter Julia Toro-Martell of Rhode Island; her father Rafael Agosto Sr. of Florida; two half-brothers Zadkiel Agosto of Florida and Rafael Agosto Jr. of Arizona; two very dear friends Eric Ramsey of New Hampshire and Amanda Childress of Vermont; and too many wonderful colleagues, students, and other relatives to mention.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, November 9th, from 3pm until 5pm at Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction, VT. A celebration of life will be held at 10am at Knight Funeral Home on Sunday, November 10. Memorial donations are appreciated to Camp Allen (campallennh.org), The Trevor Project (thetrevorproject.org), Planned Parenthood (plannedparenthood.org), and online condolences may be made at www.knightfuneralhomes.com
(Photo and Obituary via Knight Funeral Home)
The Southborough Police Department would like to express our sincere condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of Elizabeth Agosto. She was a true professional, and in the short time that she was Dean of Students, she had already taken huge steps in building relationships within the Southborough community (especially with our department). Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire St. Mark’s community, as they mourn her loss.