The final member of the Oyster Bay Roosevelts—a lineage connected to the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, Elizabeth Roosevelt was a remarkable individual—a term frequently used by those close to her. An artist, photographer, educator, sailor, equestrian, and more, “She had a tough exterior,” remarked her cousin, Tweed Roosevelt, who chairs the […]
The final member of the Oyster Bay Roosevelts—a lineage connected to the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, Elizabeth Roosevelt was a remarkable individual—a term frequently used by those close to her.
An artist, photographer, educator, sailor, equestrian, and more, “She had a tough exterior,” remarked her cousin, Tweed Roosevelt, who chairs the Roosevelt School at Long Island University. “No one would say she was warm and fuzzy. However, beneath that, she possessed a genuinely caring and kind heart.”
“I first met her in 1993 when the Oyster Bay Historical Society served as my financial sponsor for cultural and historical children’s storytelling initiatives across Long Island,” shared Denice Evans-Sheppard, now the executive director of that organization. “She was part of the board that granted me permission. At the time, I was a struggling artist balancing a job with Nassau County, and she facilitated collaboration with the board to advocate, ‘Why not give her a shot?’”
Elizabeth Roosevelt continued her involvement with the society into her 90s, serving as the volunteer manager of its gift shop located in the Earle-Wightman House. Just this past August, she delivered a lecture on local and family history during a two-hour cruise sponsored by the group. “She was incredible,” Evans-Sheppard noted. “The entire excursion was sold out.”
Roosevelt passed away on November 29 due to natural causes in her residence at Oyster Bay’s Cove Neck neighborhood, at the age of 93. Her paternal grandfather, William Emlen Roosevelt, was a first cousin of Teddy Roosevelt, who held the presidency from 1901 to 1909.
“She played a significant role in the family,” Tweed Roosevelt remarked. “Whenever possible, she was present at [family] functions. I often sat beside her when I would come here for those events” from his primary home in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Elizabeth Emlen Roosevelt was the second youngest of four siblings born to John Kean Roosevelt—a stockbroker and International Telephone and Telegraph executive—and Elise Annette Weinacht Roosevelt. Born on January 2, 1931, in New York City, she grew up in the city and at her family’s summer residence in Cove Neck. She was educated at The Chapin School in Manhattan and the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women, now part of Temple University in Philadelphia.
After managing her father’s cattle ranch in Florida for four years, she took on what the family referred to as the sole flight attendant role for a small Alaskan airline servicing the Aleutian Islands. Upon returning to her studies, she obtained a degree in arts and humanities from the University of Denver, Colorado, in 1962, and began her teaching career at Syosset High School.
After four years there, she spent a year in Hastings, New Zealand, before returning to teach history and social studies from 1968 to 1995 at Friends Academy in Locust Valley. She earned a master’s degree in history in 1975 from what is now LIU Post, located in Brookville. After retiring, she continued to teach part-time at Friends, where the Elizabeth Roosevelt History Award was established in 1999.
A dedicated sailor, she joined the junior division of Centre Island’s Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club in 1946. By 1954, she had become an instructor and later crewed in 18 women’s championships, winning numerous accolades, including four Benzie Cups. She served as a U.S. Sailing judge for 12 years.
Alongside John Hammond, Elizabeth co-authored the 2019 Arcadia Publishing book “Cove Neck: Oyster Bay’s Historic Enclave.” Her artistic works and photography have been showcased at various locations, including the Theodore Roosevelt Association in Oyster Bay and the Oyster Bay Historical Society. Additionally, she was active with the No Surrender Breast Cancer Foundation in Locust Valley.
“She was a remarkable lady,” her cousin stated. “She led an extraordinary life.”
Having never married, Elizabeth Roosevelt was briefly survived by her last sibling, brother Peter K. Roosevelt of Colorado, who passed away four days later. She is survived by 15 nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was laid to rest on December 4 at Youngs Memorial Cemetery in the Village of Oyster Bay Cove, where Theodore Roosevelt and other family members are interred.
