ELIZABETH L. POST – Elizabeth L. Post , 89, died in Naples, Florida on
April 24, 2010, surrounded by her family. Libby was born in Englewood,
New Jersey on May 7, 1920, the third of Allen and Bess Lindley’s three
children. She lived in Englewood until 1941, when she married George
Cookman, who was killed in action in the Pacific in 1943. Libby then
married Bill Post in 1944, with whom she shared the next 65 years of
her life in a wonderful, loving marriage which, along with her
children, was the central element of her life, and was a source of
inspiration to all who knew them.
Libby and Bill and their growing family lived in Bogota, Colombia in
the early 1950s, then moved to Rye, New York, where they raised their four
children, then on to Waterbury Center, Vermont, then to Marathon, Florida, and
finally to Bentley Village, in Naples, Florida. In each place they lived, they
created a wonderful life for themselves, and, especially, made lifelong
friends who were a great source of pleasure to them through the years.
Libby was the granddaughter-in-law of Emily Post. In the early 1960s,
she assumed responsibility for carrying on the Post family tradition of
writing and teaching about etiquette. Libby quickly became, and
remained for the next 30 years, America’s leading authority on
etiquette. Six times she revised and modernized the classic
“Etiquette,” originally written by Emily Post. She authored books on
weddings, children’s etiquette, entertaining and others, and she was in
great demand on television and radio shows, where the ideas of an
etiquette expert were needed.
In the early 1990s, Libby cut back on her responsibilities as an
author and authority, yielding to her daughter-in-law, Peggy, and a
little later, to her daughter Cindy Post Senning, her son Peter, and
her daughter-inlaw Tricia. They have expanded the Emily Post Institute,
and continue to this day as the country’s leading etiquette writers,
teachers and experts. Libby was extremely proud of this succession to a
fourth generation of Posts working in the etiquette field, and even
more so now that a fifth generation has joined the firm, in the persons
of Libby’s grandchildren, Anna Post, Lizzie Post, and Dan Post Senning.
Libby was a gifted artist. Her paintings, especially her later
watercolors, grace the walls of her family’s and friend’s homes, as
well as many, many collectors who purchased her works at the various
art shows at which she exhibited over the years. She was very generous
about donating works to charity auctions where her paintings always
sold well. Libby was also an accomplished golfer and an avid fisherman.
One year, she landed the largest tarpon caught by a woman in the United
States that year. She was particularly proud of the day she and Bill
each registered a so-called grand slam on the flats of the Florida
Keys, a rare feat for one person, much less for two in the same boat on
the same day. Libby and Bill were for many years avid SCUBA divers and
made numerous trips to exotic parts of the world to pursue the clearest
waters and the most colorful fish.
Libby was a straightforward, practical lady who could be counted on
to say what she thought, and her advice was always worth listening to.
She was the matriarch of a large family over which she presided with
grace, dignity, caring and loyalty. The large family gatherings at
Christmas at Libby and Bill’s house at North Hill in Waterbury Center,
Vermont were family highlights every year. Libby will be greatly missed by
all who knew her. Libby is survived by her wonderful husband, Bill; her
four children and their spouses, Allen Post and Peggy, Bill Post, Jr.
and Maureen, Cindy Senning and John, and Peter Post and Tricia. She is
also survived by her eight grandchildren, their spouses and one
great-grandson: Casey Post, Jeep Post and his wife, Jessica, Peter Post,
his wife, Elizabeth Archangeli, and greatgrandson, Alexander, Jill
Ravey, Dan Senning, Will Senning, Anna Post, and Lizzie Post. She was
predeceased in 1987 by her grandson, Paul Post. She is also survived by her
niece, Betsy Lindley Bird, and her nephews, Dan Lindley and Pete
Lindley, and by numerous great nephews and nieces. Libby’s family
wishes to express its gratitude to the wonderful nurses and staff at
the Bentley Extended Care Facility, who provided such good and tender
care during her last weeks. They are truly compassionate and
professional people. A service celebrating Libby’s life will be held in
Waterbury Center, Vermont on a date and time to be determined.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Waterbury Congregational
Church, UCC, 8 North Main Street, Waterbury, VT 05676 or to the Helen
Day Art Center, 5 School Street, PO Box 411, Stowe, VT 05672.
