Elizabeth Victoria Foley

Elizabeth Victoria Foley

Northapton, MA — Elizabeth Victoria Foley, of New York City and Northampton Massachusetts, age 64, died on Thursday, October 28 th 2021 from complications of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. She is survived by her loving and devoted life partner, Peter Hobbs; her brothers Peter and John; John's wife Michelle; Liz's three nephews Aidan, Dylan, and Cameron; her niece Clara; and Elizabeth's lifelong best friend Georgia Christensen.

Elizabeth grew up in New Hyde Park on Long Island and attended Herricks High School. She was one of the first students to enroll in the high school's new progressive learning program, 'Free School,' where students determined their own curriculum. She excelled and went on to the University of Massachusetts and eventually to Smith College as an Ada Comstock Scholar, where she studied Film, Literature and French. She received her BA and graduated from Smith with Cum Laude honors.

After Smith, she was accepted at Columbia University Film School and earned her MFA in Film Production. Her thesis film 'Jeanne & Hauviette', for which she did original research in England and France, was filmed on location at the Cloisters in Upper Manhattan. Shortly thereafter Elizabeth, with Peter Hobbs, formed Elyria Pictures, a film production company. Elizabeth wrote, directed, and produced many documentary and narrative films, including the long-running interview series "Living the Classical Life." In 2012, Elizabeth co-directed and co-produced the award-winning feature film 'Bridge of Names,' with a guest appearance by actor Rip Torn. In 2014, Elizabeth's efforts on the short film 'Anniversary' received award-winning acclaim. During this time she was also thrilled to continue her work in the Northampton, MA theater community.

With her passion for learning, teaching came naturally, and in 2004 she began her career as an Instructor at the New York Film Academy, where she designed the school's first producing curriculum. After 5 years at the NYFA, she became an Assistant Professor, teaching all aspects of film production and script writing at Five Towns College, Queens College, and Borough of Manhattan Community College, among other schools. Elizabeth loved teaching, and her nurturing of young talent spanned more than 20 years.

Though Elizabeth's life was cut tragically short by an insidious disease she touched many lives with her wide smile, ironic wit, story-telling gifts, and her love of people. She will be intensely missed by colleagues, students, and friends, but mostly by her family, to whom she devoted so much of her life. A memorial service for Elizabeth will be announced in the coming weeks.