Obituary of Diana Louise Spirt

Spirt, Diana Louise of Bayville, NY on July 6 , 2021 age 96.  Beloved mother of Stephen Lembo, M.D. (deceased), Jarron Jewell (the late Conrad Schoeffling) and Deirdre Brown (the late James Brown).  Loving grandmother of Jaeme and Jesse Jewell.  Sister of Ronald McDonough.  Professor of Graduate Library Science at LIU/Post from 1963-1985.  Author of 12 published education books, scholar-in residence at universities in Nova Scotia and Washington. Diana was a member of the Caldecott Committee for the 1986 book “Hey Al!.”   She was the originator/ Curator of the American Juvenile Collection housed in the Rare Book Room at LIU Post.  In the 1970’s, Diana initiated a lawsuit against TIAA to correct an inequity in the equal employment provision in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 impacting pension distributions.  She won the lawsuit after a ten-year pursuit.  TIAA changed its actuarial tables and pension payouts were made equal for women and men working in private colleges and universities throughout the United States.   Diana was a visionary who led a rich life that touched people in her local community and around the world.  High minded and highly principled, she was lovingly dedicated to her family.  Arrangements entrusted to the Dodge-Thomas Funeral Home, Glen Cove, NY.   Funeral services at the Reformed Church of Locust Valley, Saturday, July 10, 2021 at 1p. 115 Ryefield Road, Locust Valley, NY 11560.  516/676-6130                                                                                            

www.dodgethomas.com

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