Elizabeth Anne Burgoyne "Liz" Knapp

KNAPP

ELIZABETH ANNE BURGOYNE KNAPP "Liz" (Age 77)

Of Reston, VA, died peacefully on January 13, 2024, after suffering a stroke.

Liz was born in Liverpool, England, and moved with her family to Buffalo, NY in 1955, when her father, Vice President of Production for Dunlop Tire Co., was transferred to Dunlop's Buffalo plant. She graduated from Amherst Central High School and attended McGill University for two years, before moving with her family to Kinston, NC, where she attended Hardbarger Business College. She moved to Washington, DC and got a job at the Association of American Medical Colleges. It was there she met her husband, Dr. Richard M. Knapp.

Liz and Richard moved to Reston, where they raised their two children. Liz worked at South Lakes High School for almost three decades and was beloved by all who knew her. She was asked to deliver graduation speeches by several senior classes, she chaperoned many "all night grad parties" (which she loved doing), she was the driving force in establishing the SLHS Sports Hall of Fame, and she was the person who callers spoke to when they phoned the school â€" learning from Liz that South Lakes was "Home of the Seahawks and darn proud of it." Liz also worked with the SLHS Food Pantry. She was proud of all "her" students, and you would be hard pressed to go with Liz anywhere in Reston without someone calling out "Mrs. Knapp!"

In 2006, Fairfax County honored Liz with the "Lady Fairfax" award, in recognition of her exceptional service in support of the citizens of Fairfax County.

Liz enjoyed travelling, including regular trips to Saratoga Springs, NY, and Bethany Beach. She also enjoyed spending time with family and friends, was an avid sports fan (especially Carolina basketball), and embraced her British heritage. She was intelligent, humorous, kind, and giving and will be remembered for all those things by her family and the many others whose lives she touched. She will be missed but never forgotten.

Liz was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Florence Burgoyne, and her sister, Patricia Burgoyne Martinez. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Richard Knapp; her children, Peter Knapp of Leesburg, VA, and Heather Knapp Daugherty and Heather's husband Jon, of Herndon, VA; grandchildren Trent Knapp and Benjamin (Ben) Daugherty; siblings Janice Burgoyne Betancor of the Canary Islands, Spain, Stephanie Burgoyne and her husband Terry Dunlap, of Cortez, Colorado, Robert Burgoyne and his wife Amee, of McLean, VA, and Richard Burgoyne and his wife Hope, of New Zealand; and nine nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Liz's life is planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made either to South Lakes High School (SLHS) to benefit students in need; or to the SLHS PTSA Food Pantry, which supports SLHS and the feeder middle and elementary schools. Donations can be made by mailing a check to the attention of either the Principal (for donations to the School) or the PTSA (for donations to the Pantry) at 11400 South Lakes Dr., Reston, VA 20191, with a notation that the donation is in memory of Liz Knapp.