Elizabeth M. Leahy

Betsy was my dear friend throughout high school at Our Lady of Mercy in Michigan. She was an astonishing athlete and a brilliant artist among many other gifts. She was so funny and always had our group of girlfriends laughing. I don't know if I have ever met anyone with so many natural talents. We spent so many fun days riding my ponies and sledding. She was an amazing person inside and out. What a void she has left. My most heartfelt condolences to her family and many friends.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Leahy was my high school classmate junior and senior year. I was a transfer student and I met her in the pool and we had several classes together. Having grown up on a lake and been on a swim team, I thought I was a decent swimmer, until I saw Elizabeth swim the 50 free! Wow! Pure power and grace in the water. Elizabeth was also an incredibly kind, bright, quietly funny person in class and around school. We kept in touch a bit via letter and email in her years at U of M and after college but then we lost touch. What strikes me now, reading about Elizabeth´s life in San Francisco, is how remarkably consistent it is with the amazing person I knew 40 years ago. I´m not surprised to read about her incredible fire and rescue work, adventure travel, and positive impacts on everyone around her. Such a beautiful, unforgettable person. I know she´s on her next journey and her spirit still with us. My sincere condolences to all her family and friends.

I had the honor to be a coxswain on the Michigan Crew with Betsey in the 80´s. I remember her towering presence both as a tall, strong, beautiful red-headed woman, but also a funny, warm and intelligent friend. Knowing what she did after she graduated, I believe we lost a gem, a real hero. RIP.

Elizabeth came to me first in October of 2022, and said " I believe strongly that I was born with unlimited potential and I want you to teach me how to see, feel and travel in the other realms" And that is what we did. Elizabeth found all the treasure and love and wisdom in our work together that she knew was possible. She was always laughing and crying simultaneously. She found the edges of life, and then traversed right beyond them, because that is who she is.

What a loss for Elizabeth"s personal family and friends in the SFFD. I had the pleasure of working many watches on Truck 18 with Elizabeth conducting our morning inspections, ladder drills, shopping for meals, building alarms, surf drills and rescues, and all the other shared memories that all firehouses experience. She was a constant mentor, an absolute pleasure to be around, fearless rescue swimmer, with wit and wisdom to match. Her stories of her travel experience"s at our round table were inspiring. Her time on this Earth was cut way too short, and i hope she knows there"s an Ocean of Love wishing her well on her next journey.

Condolences, Mike Coleman

I had the fortune of working on the Surf Reacue Program with Elizabeth. She was always pleasant, professional and positive. There were many hours spent in the water training. You could see her exceptional skill and love of the water. She will be missed not only on land but in the water.

Our Canada trips and sitting around the fire for hours or when we met in Hawaii and got to experience the island together.

We work together at station 18, she was kind, reserved sweet spiritual person that I enjoyed working with. People touch our lives in many ways. I haven´t seen her for over thirty years, but I remember her so vividly as a sweet lady of statute and kindness. After dinner we played table tennis and we were partners. But doing the day I became the agitator by saying sign up for the beat down Liz and I are giving tonight. She would laugh and the crew would say; she´s isn´t that quiet when she works with you. I would say; my partner don´t have to, now come and take this whipping like a man: I´m so grateful to God for allowing our journey to cross. Heaven has an angel that touch my heart and my spirit. Please accept my prayers and deepest sympathy.

I've started typing up SO many memories of Elizabeth--she's one of those rare friends where memories stand out clearly in my mind of adventures we had or laughs we shared. One such moment is a mountain bike ride Elizabeth and I took in the late 1990s. We knew each other through rowing, but we enjoyed a lot of sports together. On this particular winter afternoon, we headed from The City across the GG Bridge, and into Rodeo Valley. We rode up and over into the next valley north. It was overcast and very chilly...and as we were barreling downhill, it started to snow! It felt so magical, and it made us laugh so hard--despite how cold our hands and faces were. (Oh, and you KNOW Elizabeth's face must have been *bright* red by this point!)

I worked with Elizabeth one time. I easily recall her warm smile and her friendly, open nature. Beautiful soul.

She was a beautiful swimmer. I always got the feeling she was working with the water to move so effortlessly through it, but not trying to overpower it. Once out on a swim someone said "She's going to swim the English Channel" and I could only reply "No kidding". A rare soul has passed from us, my condolences to all who knew her.

In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.

To anyone who had a close connection with Elizabeth please accept my sincerest condolences. I only worked with Elizabeth on an occasional basis in the SFFD but I remember her for being kind, funny and a joy to work with.

Elizabeth was an amazing strong and kind person. Beautiful inside and out. I’m so proud to have known her. She has a large family outside of her relatives that will miss her dearly.

On a swim after work, in ocean at Ocean beach, a "scream" (from third swimmer as we were taking in all the advise we could from Elizabeth even off hours during a swim) and then I heard Elizabeth laughing as she yelled over." It´s just a seal". For those who haven´t had the experience in the ocean a seal is giant! As it pop´s into view out of a wave or up from the surface. As always Elizabeth gifted us with her grace. Her true nature always there. That is what the world will be without, now we must go on with one less person of grace and love. RIP

A life force. A smile that could warm any room. A hug that could melt your troubles away. So grateful for the times we got to see each other.

I was only lucky enough to know Elizabeth for a short time ... a month trekking in Nepal in the spring of 2022 and then a subsequent trip to Iceland with her horse riding. This photo was taken in Iceland at the end of the ride and - as always - she embraced the feeling of the water washing over her skin. Following those two trips we kept in touch by email but I never actually saw her again. She was such a special, and unique, person ... so resilient and with a serenity which I have never experienced before. I will be honoured to take some of her ashes to scatter in the Himalayas and I wish her peace wherever she goes. Sally Lees, UK.

It was my honor to be afforded the opportunity to meet, learn from, and be a friend. Many memories of station 18. Your smile and personality are enlightening the saints now.

I remember when she first made driver at T18, we had a surf rescue drill, her first one. I had her stay by me as we went out through the breakers, as I didn't know her ability. Duh We all later learned she would be swimming the English Channel! Her first attempt was canceled while she was there. Station 18 helped fund her second attempt which she succeeded in accomplishing. I missed you when I left and that will continue.
A good volleyball player as well.

Elizabeth was THE consummate co-worker full of sweetness, competence,, and fun! You knew you were going to have a great day at the firehouse with her. Her smile was contagious. She was the living embodiment of "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Ephesians 4:32 The world needs more Elizabeth Leahys!

A truly great person, great to work with, great to talk to, great to play with. Her impact on us will be a truly good memory and example. May she rest in the Lords palms.

Elizabeth was a beautiful mix of wisdom and mischief. I will miss that sly dog smile as she waits for me to catch up to her joke. I will miss how she often called me by my full name: in text, in email, face to face. I will miss rambling around Crissy Field and listening to her as she revealed the ocean's secrets...what the change in the color of the water means, the pattern of the waves. I will miss seeing her in nature, but I have no doubt I will find her there again.

I was lucky to be assigned to Station 18 as a brand new SF Firefighter. Elizabeth was tillering Ladder Truck 18 and set a strong yet gentle example of what it took to be admired dept wide. She had a terrific sense if humor and will be sorely missed by her family, friends and associates.

she made me smile everytime I saw her... she didn't have to do anything... she was so funny...such a special ,special human...

Elizabeth was truly a special person.....she would always have a big smile on her face when we would bump into each other at different drills and occasionally working together at various stations ......we both felt very comfortable talking to each other ....... I will always hold a special place in my heart for her

Apart from.her passion to excel, Elizabeth ALWAYS smiled...even when she was training hard. She was someone you just gravitated toward, and I felt, as a her coach, and friend, that I was always looking forward to the next time I got to see her.

https://www.firehouse.com/rescue/article/10510306/san-francisco-fire-department-performs-dramatic-surf-rescue

I first met Elizabeth when I joined a women´s masters rowing team in the Bay Area. She was was a superstar on the team and much beloved. She was super friendly, encouraging and welcoming to me, the newbie. I was grateful. Much to my surprise and happiness , I found out she was soon to enter the SFFD, becoming one of my Fire sisters. One thing that was not mentioned in the beautiful obit....she had quirky, mischievous sense of humor! She was funny! Her presence on the planet will be missed.

Such a sweet, tall, peaceful and beautiful lady. The kind of rare creature you´re lucky enough to meet in a lifetime. I called her Mc-O´Leahy, and she would laugh this wonderful laugh. Still in awe of you. Rest In Heavenly Peace.

Elizabeth Leahy was a force, who had a quiet spirit and deep conviction on life...and her many triumphs - which we would learn months after they occurred (SFFD), were so inspiring! May she Rest In Peace

Elizabeth Leahy is a rare and beautiful soul. It was a privilege to know her.