To our NCF Community,
With our collective sorrow, we share the news of the passing of NCF’s founding Executive Director Liz Palmieri. Liz had a passion for Niagara and a vision for a future where all residents of Niagara could live and thrive. It is because of her vision, that NCF has being able to turn the intent of so many donors into tangible impact for the past 24 years. She will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by the entire NCF family the community at large.
As the founding Executive Director of NCF, Liz’s experience, expertise, determination and work ethic combined with the leadership of the Foundation’s early Boards of Directors, truly built the organization from the ground up, giving it the structural integrity required to grow and flourish as it has in the past two and a half decades. Liz retired from NCF in 2016, but continued to serve the philanthropic sector as an extremely sought-after consultant. She remained closely connected to the NCF team, offering guidance when asked, while providing space for the organization to evolve. Her ready smile, cheerful laugh, inquisitive, yet confident demeanor and intentional connection to anyone she was speaking with will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
Liz leaves behind a strong legacy for Niagara. Her fingerprints are seen all throughout the charitable sector and beyond. Her first job in the non-profit sector was working with the St. Catharines YWCA in 1983. For the following decades she dedicated her life’s work to making Niagara a better place for others having worked or volunteered with organizations such as the Rotary Club of St. Catharines, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Niagara Artists’ Centre, Carousel Players, Chorus Niagara and the Niagara College Foundation. Following her retirement from NCF, Liz received an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from Brock University. An extremely well deserved tribute to acknowledge her leadership and countless contributions to Niagara and across the charitable sector.
A consummate professional, Liz’s character and leadership transcended our own region. Across the country and internationally, Liz was truly respected throughout the Community Foundation network. A stalwart advocate for the Community Foundation movement, Liz and her policy work was relied upon and graciously shared by her to countless other Community Foundations and other charitable organizations.
Liz was well connected and admired by many. Betty-Lou Souter, former NCF Board Chair and close personal friend of Liz shares her reflection, “Liz Palmieri was a strong leader, a dedicated member of the community who strove to make it a better place in which to live, play and grow. Her legacy of concern, caring and understanding will continue to be felt and the selfless giving of herself will always live in the hearts of those with whom she interacted.”
We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to Liz’s family for the loss of a wonderful spouse, Mom and Grandma. Should you wish to honour Liz’s legacy, in lieu of flowers and gifts the family has requested donations to the Palmieri Family Fund or to the Juravinski Cancer Centre Foundation.
As an organization and as a community, we feel privileged to carry on her work and will ensure that her legacy is felt for generations to come.
Sincere condolences,
Bryan Rose
Executive Director
