Lisabeth Comm — a beloved and innovative educator who impacted thousands of Westport students, and was also a world traveler and arts aficionado — died Friday in Florida, from complications of Alzheimer’s. She was 76 years old.
The Ohio native loved her role as an educator, in all forms.
She was a highly respected English teacher and department chair at Staples High School. Her leadership and vision changed the lives of countless students and colleagues.
Lis Comm
Over her 44-year career in Westport, Lis inspired generations of students with her passion for literature, and her commitment to expanding their horizons through a wide array of English courses.
She was particularly proud of 2 she designed: Mythology and Bible, and Women in Literature.
She was an early advocate of integrating literature from diverse cultures, including Native American, Asian, Black and Latin American — into the traditional English curriculum.
Lis was also instrumental in introducing feminist literary criticism to the Staples English Department.
Lis Comm and her husband, Math Department chair Frank Corbo, promoted reading for pleasure at Staples. The book they chose was, appropriately, “Romeo & Juliet.”
Her love for education extended beyond the classroom. After retirement Lis volunteered as a docent at the Baker Museum in Naples, Florida, where she shared her passion for art and culture with visitors. Her warmth, knowledge and enthusiasm enriched the lives of many.
Lis is survived by her husband Frank Corbo, former head of the Staples math department, with whom she shared 38 wonderful years. Together, they visited all 7 continents, including a final trip a year ago to Norway.
Lis Comm, on one of her many journeys.
Frank calls Lis “the most incredible, beautiful, brilliant partner anyone could have. I’m an extremely lucky man.”
Lis is also survived by her sisters Julie Kireta and Clare Comm, and brother James Comm.
A celebration of Lis’s life will be held in Westport at a time and place to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
Lis Comm
Loved Ms. Comm! My grade sophomore English teacher criticized and demeaned my writing without giving me helpful advice to improve. The next year I had Ms. Comm and she was encouraging, helpful and constructive, so that I was able to take AP Lit later and do well. I remember this over 45 years later, so she certainly made an impression as an educator.
RIP to a wonderful lady
When my wife, Pat and I attended back to school night in the late 1990s for our then senior, Meaghan, we listened to Ms. Comm’s description of the the syllabus for the class, the parents almost universally said, can we take this class? She was clearly a great teacher and Stapes was better for her having taught there.
I graduated from Staples in 2005 and never forgot Ms. Comm! I did an independent study in creative writing with her and it was transformative. She was amazing.
I was so lucky to have Ms Comm for at least two classes. I believe I took her Women in Lit class. I also took the Junior yr research paper course. She encouraged me to take the mid level class with her instead of the research project, which I am grateful for. She was always so supportive. I learned I could accomplish more than I thought.
I wrote my junior year research paper on health care policy for a class with Ms Comm and now 30+ years later I work in health care policy. I think part of that is due to the encouragement she gave me back in English class all those many years ago! She was such a warm and supportive teacher.
One of the best teachers of all time.
She was a gem- thoughtful, kind and smart. One of my favorite teachers. May her memory be a blessing.
Lis Comm helped shape the way I read and how I think critically about the world. She was as good as it gets, an extraordinary educator. I thought it was fitting how you used the word “beloved” as she taught me to love Toni Morrison’s “Beloved,” specifically, among many excellent works.
May her memory be a blessing.
Lis Comm utterly changed my life when she hired me over the summer of 2003. As a Veteran and 9/11 survivor, I entered the 1-1 interview with Lis with a strong sense of imposter syndrome. Lis made me feel welcomed and appreciated. We discussed reading and writing, and she suggested I explore professional development through the CT Writing Project at Fairfield U. Her leadership and willingness to give a new teacher a chance allowed me to spend a decade at Staples, a period of my life I truly cherish. Lis will be remembered by my entire family. She connected with her teachers and truly expressed her love for the department through her actions. You will be missed, Lis.
Lis and I became real friends later in our careers at Staples , and then were able to see each other now and then after we both retired and moved to Florida. She, as we all know well, was a brilliant, talented, beautiful, and warm loving person. I feel so deeply sad that she had to suffer from that misery called Alzheimer’s and miss what could have been many more years of productive and enjoyable life. May her memory be for a blessing!
Ann Friedman
Lis was a brilliant and generous leader in Westport, and I was so lucky to be one of “her” teachers in the English Department. Always ready to talk about great literature, about pedagogy, about politics — Lis was passionate and utterly engaged in life.
And you can’t talk about Lis without Frank. They were a real love story from start to finish.
Lis’s was a life so well-lived, cut short though it was.
Ms. Comm was my English teacher in my sophomore year at Staples in the 1970-71 academic year. If I remember correctly, it was her first year teaching at Staples. She was a warm, intelligent and enthusiastic teacher. I will always remember her fondly.
My condolences to her family and friends.
My Dear Frank
I obviously didn’t known your wife although having read the obituary I feel I certainly know of her and I was so moved but also saddened because you did talk about her on the cruise
My thoughts and prayers are with you because I know how you feel having been through the same
Hugs and kisses in the nicest possible way
Helena