Obituary of Elisabeth M. "Lisa" Herzog

Lisa Herzog, devoted mother and teacher, known for her zest for life and her lovely smile, passed away peacefully on the evening of March 20, 2023, surrounded by her three children.

Born on January 29, 1930, and raised in both Chattanooga, Tennessee and Louisville, Kentucky, Lisa was passionate about education, which inspired her to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree in this field from the University of Louisville, along with a Masters Equivalent while attending the University of Colorado, Harvard University, and the Pennsylvania State University.

In 1955, while teaching in the Boston area, she met her life partner, Leonard Herzog, a scientist directing the Nuclear Cosmochemistry Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). They married a year later at the Appleton Chapel of the Harvard Memorial Church, merging their mutual interests in theater, opera, art, music, tennis, gourmet cooking, and a life-long passion for travel throughout the world.

The couple moved to State College, Pennsylvania in 1957 and Lisa soon began a teaching career in the State College Area School District, spanning 25 years. In addition to her dedication to her three children (Fritz, Heather, and Clay), she loved teaching students — who came from all over the world — in her 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade classes at the Fairmont Avenue Elementary School. To this day, her former students praise her enthusiasm for fostering classroom ideas and creativity, while providing personal attention to each one of them. She also had a flair for coordinating school musicals, theater, events, and curriculum development. These coordination skills eventually even extended to organizing the match-making of marriages among friends, creating memorable social events, and producing a film on the history of Centre County with her son, Fritz, which was used by the school district for many years.

As time went on, Lisa and Len continued to share a rich social life and a bountiful retirement together, as she aided in local community efforts for the American Association of University Women, Meals on Wheels, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, the Pennsylvania Teachers Association, and the U.S. Bicentennial Committee. Lisa and Len also chaired the State College Ballroom Dancers society, contributed to humanitarian causes, traveled extensively, and treasured their time with their beloved granddaughter, Catalena.

When Len, the love of Lisa's life, passed away in 2011, Lisa found solace by moving into Foxdale Village, a vibrant retirement community in State College. There, she found many of her friends and former colleagues involved in art, music, dance, theater, life-long-learning, and more. Lisa adjusted quickly by joining in, making new friends, and putting her coordination abilities to use organizing Foxdale's first-ever Penn State football watch-party (a community-wide event that has grown from a small potluck to a catered, large-screen TV gathering in Foxdale's auditorium).

Lisa's joie de vivre and competitive spirit was never more evident later in life than when she bested her opponents (both men and women) in Ping Pong and shuffleboard at Foxdale and other communities — she loved a fun challenge! Lisa was also known throughout her life as a person who surrounded herself with beauty: she loved beautiful clothes, jewelry, and antiques; cherished nature; and had a timeless sense of fashion that was frequently remarked upon.

In recent years, as she faced numerous health challenges, Lisa never ceased to offer her sweet smile and kind words to those who cared for her, and was extremely grateful for the steadfast dedication of these individuals. Likewise, Lisa has always been greatly devoted to her family, valuing family moments like precious jewels — and, in turn, her family and beloved husband have greatly loved her to the moon and back.

Lisa's family and friends will miss her deeply.

She is survived by her son, Leonard Frederick (Fritz) Herzog III of Los Angeles, California; her daughter, Heather Elisabeth Herzog and son-in-law, Steven Patrick Eskey of State College, Pennsylvania; her son, Clayton (Clay) Ethan Moffitt Herzog and daughter-in-law, Jacqueline Elisabeth Schwab of Sharpsburg, Maryland; and her granddaughter, Catalena Elisabeth Herzog Eskey, of Lafayette, Colorado. She was proceeded in death by her husband, Leonard Frederick Herzog II; her parents, Ralph C. Moffitt and Bessie A. Moffitt; and her siblings, Edsel Ford Moffitt, James Allen Moffitt, Paul Sladen Moffitt, and Mary Lee Nurry (Moffitt).

A Celebration of Life will be at 2 p.m., on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at Foxdale Village, 500 E. Marylyn Ave., State College.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends send donations to the State College Area School District Education Foundation (www.scasdfoundation.org), or a charity of your choice.

Onlince condolences may be made at www.Kochfuneralhome.com.