‘She was just a shining star’
Newtown mourns loss of beloved educator who died at 48
NEWTOWN — Lynn Lewis went to work at Middle Gate Elementary School like it were any other day on Dec. 1. Her husband, Allan Lewis, 52, — a Danbury firefighter — dropped her off around 8 a.m. and she tended to her usual activities.
Two hours later she passed out at her desk.
Co-workers called emergency services for help during which, Lewis regained consciousness and was alert. But while en route to the hospital, Lewis died.
Allan Lewis received a call from the hospital around 10:30 a.m. pronouncing her passing. Doctors told him she suffered from an aneurysm at the base of her brain — they called it a hemorrhaging stroke — clotting her brain and cutting off oxygen to the rest of her body.
What started as a regular day for the Lewis family became their worst.
Lynn, 48, is survived by her husband, three children — Derek, 19; Gina, 17 and Victoria, 15 — and a brother
and sister — Marc and Lori Nespoli.
Lynn — born and raised in Newtown — was an educator for numerous years working in various roles at the St. Rose of Lima, Sandy Hook and Middle Gate elementary schools. She loved the town she grew up in so much that she made it her permanent home and settled into a life with her family along the same streets.
Her family remembers her for her selflessness and love of family.
“Everyone has said... she was just a shining star. The smile she had, you never saw her without a smile on her face and that just had an effect on people,” Allan said. “Even on my worst day, I would come home and she would make me feel better because that’s how selfless she was. That was her thing, she wanted to make people happy.”
Allan said Lynn never missed a game, recital or competition. She devoted her life to her children and others in the community. But above all, she always made others feel welcome and special in her home, according to Allan.
Lynn especially loved the holidays and gathering with family. Allan said she was known for putting up her family’s Christmas tree each year and baking desserts. Lynn put up her tree two days before passing but didn’t get a chance to hang lights on the house — something she was very excited to do, Allan said.
The lights are now hung, however. After making arrangements one morning, Allan came home to find 20 firefighters on his front lawn hanging lights in memory of Lynn. They recalled Allan talking about her excitement over the holiday and decided they would do it for her.
Allan said his family is keeping the tree and lights up as a way of “keeping her alive.” He says despite the community’s mourning, he is moved by how supportive it has been to his family.
“We’ve had nothing but love and support throughout this from our community. I never realized how many people she touched. I thought I saw it all and I guess I didn’t.”
Community members have been joining forces to support Lynn’s family during these trying times. Family friend Meghan Stabile started a GoFundMe to help Allan continue caring for their three, college-bound children.
“There’s nothing you can really do to ease that pain except be there to support them. Hopefully that GoFundMe will take at least one stress away,” Stabile said. The community has raised $67,849 of its $75,000 goal and will keep the page up until Jan. 1.
Stabile said that she sent the page to 17 friends after making it and it immediately gained traction. Within hours the community raised nearly $30,000, according to Stabile. She says the tremendous support and influx of donations is merely a reflection of how generous and loved Lynn was. Stabile thanks Lynn for inspiring her to be a good mother and more.
Allan said that if he could see Lynn now, he would tell her how the family loves her beyond anything. Their daughter was accepted into Penn State Thursday and that would make her proud. Allan thinks the missed milestones will be the hardest for them but Lynn shouldn’t worry because they’re “a strong team” and will get through this.
“Every time we think about her we smile because all we have are happy memories of her, so that’s what we hold onto. She was as close to perfect as I could ever imagine.”