Elizabeth Anne Oldendorp

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Elizabeth "Lisa" Oldendorp (née Sayre) on February 19, 2026. Lisa is survived by her daughter, Christina (John) McGann, and her son, Greg (Megan) Oldendorp; her beloved grandchildren, John, Finn, Owen, Graham, and Scarlett; and her sister, Helene (Dennis) Dennerlein. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Elizabeth Sayre, and her sister, Valerie (Robert) McGuire.

Lisa was born on July 23, 1946, in Bayside, Queens, and moved at a young age with her family to Levittown, New York. She grew up surrounded by a large and close-knit extended family, with aunts, uncles, and cousins—some living right on the same street. She often shared fond memories and stories from those cherished early years.

She attended St. Agnes Cathedral High School and The College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, New York, later earning her Master of Arts in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University. She also received a scholarship to study in Canada at l'Université Laval in Quebec.

Lisa dedicated many years to teaching in the public school system. She taught Spanish and French before finding her true calling in English as a Second Language in the Wantagh Public Schools, where she served for 24 years before retiring in 2009. She worked with students from around the world, many of whom she remained in touch with throughout her life. A devoted advocate for her K-12 students, she balanced her career while raising her own children, who attended the same Wantagh schools. Former colleagues and students fondly remember the heavy canvas bags of books and papers she carried from school to school within the district.

One of Lisa's happiest childhood memories was roller skating with her father on weekends. She continued skating for many years and proudly earned fourth place in the Junior Olympic division at the 1997 Roller Skating Nationals in Pensacola, Florida. After retiring from competitive skating, she embraced ballroom dancing, forming many treasured friendships in New York and Ohio along the way. Friends knew that Lisa traded her heavy school bags for equally heavy skating and dance bags, always filled with her essentials.

Family was always at the center of Lisa's life. Even while working full-time, she regularly traveled to Maryland for holidays, her grandchildren's birthdays, and special occasions. She especially loved playing spirited games of Scrabble with them. In 2018, a few years after retirement, she moved to Dublin, Ohio, to be closer to her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. There, she delighted in attending concerts and school events, playing games, and even borrowing her grandchildren's dog, Clover, for overnight visits. In Ohio, she built a new circle of friends who shared her passions for dance, activism, and community.

Lisa will be remembered for her kindness, intelligence, generosity, selflessness, and unwavering advocacy for others. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 West Weisheimer Road, Columbus, OH 43214 from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Thursday February 26. If you wish, a donation to a charity of your choice in Lisa's honor would be a tribute to her kind and giving heart.