Leonarda T. Grifo Our beloved Lee passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 3, 2016. She was born on February 4, 1925 to Crocefissa Geraci and Antonio Geraci of Sommatino, Italy. She was married to the late Honorable Richard D. Grifo for 54 years. Lee is survived by her brothers Richard A. Geraci, of Dalton, Georgia and Frank Geraci, of Crossville, Tennessee, her three daughters, Antonia Grifo, Esquire, Magisterial District Judge and her husband, Ronald W. Shipman, Esquire of Easton, Dr. Francesca T. Grifo and her husband, Dr. William J. Hahn, of Bethesda, Maryland and Carla Grifo Gunn and her husband, Walter T. Gunn, of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, five grandchildren, Paolo Raines Shipman, Marco Richard Grifo Shipman, Aldo Massimo Grifo-Hahn, Luca Leonardo Grifo - Hahn and Luisa Leonarda Gunn, two stepgrandsons, Ronald W. Shipman II of Wind Gap and his wife, Jo Lynn Shipman and Christopher M. Shipman, Esquire of Easton and his wife Gillian T. Shipman, Esquire, her stepgreat-granddaughters, Stella S. R. Shipman and Abigail Joy Shipman and stepgreat-grandson John D. Shipman. She is preceded in death by her sisters Lillian Balice, Liboria Abrams, and Carmella Curran and countless cousins, nieces and nephews, all dear to her. To those to whom much is given much is expected. This famous quote from President John F. Kennedy, epitomizes Lee Grifos life. Lee was a woman of grace, distinction, strength and fortitude. She is best known for her unselfish philanthropy, volunteerism and family values, especially her work with children and the less fortunate. She had a deep passion for the performing arts, especially music, opera and theatre. Always grateful Lee lived the give back life. She felt rewarded by crossing paths with many generous and philanthropic individuals. Lee began singing and acting at age five and never stopped. She studied the viola, played in the marching band, and the junior high orchestra and enjoyed tap dancing and modeling. She took to the dramatic arts and played leading roles in school dramas and operettas and with the Lafayette College and Chansonette Theatres. As a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, she became a choir soloist at the age of 18 and over a period of 20 years sang for hundreds of weddings and funerals. Lee sang with the renowned Bach Choir of Bethlehem for 15 years, performing in Carnegie Hall in 1975 with Eugene Ormandy and traveling to Germany in 1976 to perform at Bachs church in Leipzig. She served on the board and accompanied the conductor on visits to New York City to audition prospective soloists for the annual Bach Festival. Although Lee was raised speaking the Sicilian dialect, she became fluent in classical Italian through study at Lafayette College. Over the years she audited Lafayette classes ranging from opera to Shakespeare. At 18, Lee joined the law firm of Coffin & Grifo where she served as office manager and paralegal. She was employed by the firm for 12 years until she married the late Richard D. Grifo, a much loved and respected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Lee and Dick were the proud parents of three daughters, Antonia Grifo, Esquire, Magisterial District Judge, of Easton, Dr. Francesca Grifo Scientific Integrity Official for the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, DC and Carla Grifo Gunn, Director of Administration at A.W. Brown, of East Longmeadow, MA. To Lees great joy, her daughters have continued the tradition of giving back to their communities. People of the Lehigh Valley and beyond know Lee for her philanthropy. Lee touched so many lives. When she was 18 she served as the West Ward residential co-chairwoman for the Community Chest (predecessor to the United Way). In 1955, after the Delaware River flood, she assisted with the Army Corps of Engineers in the office of Captain C.D. Stricker. She was a member and past president of the Junior Service League, Vice President of the Womans Auxiliary of Lafayette College, a member of the Homemaker Services, Mental Health Service, Womens division of HOGAR CREA, Executive Secretary of the Community Concert Association and President of the Board of Trustees of Moravian Academy. In 1969, Lee was the campaign chair for her husbands successful campaign for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County. Lee served on the Board of Directors of Easton Hospital for 35 years. Lee continued her involvement by becoming a Volunteer Patient Representative, visiting 40 to 60 patients a week. Until recently she could be found every Friday cheerfully guiding visitors from her post at the Information Desk. Lee was a consummate fundraiser. She was a founding member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra of Bethlehem and a member of the campaign committee formed under L. Anderson Daub to assist in raising the money for the Sigal Museum of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society. Near and dear to Lees heart was her work with the State Theatre. For her exceptional work, raising the millions necessary to restore the theatre to its original splendor, President George W. Bush named her as one of his National Point of Lights. Volunteerism was at the core of who Lee Grifo was and age was no obstacle. At 85 she embraced the challenge of a capital campaign to enable the Easton Area Community Center (in the West Ward neighborhood of her youth) to purchase its building and she continued to provide leadership to the Board as an active member. The EACC building was dedicated to her in 2015 and is now known as the Lee T. Grifo Building. Lees awards are numerous - the President Bush Points of Lights Award, the Easton Area Chamber of Commerce Award, the Gretchen Wrenshall Community Caring Award, the Hall of Fame of the New Eastwood Care and Rehabilatation Center and the Father Barbata Award. Lee was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, the Northampton Country Club, the Pomfret Club, the YR Club, the State Theatre, the Sigal Museum, the Marquis Society of Lafayette, a Bach Choir Guarantor and a member of the Richard D. Grifo Sons of Italy Lodge. The family sends special thanks to Moravian Hall Square for their compassionate care. Calling hours will be held on Friday from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in Morello Funeral Home, Inc., 3720 Nicholas Street, Easton, PA (Palmer Twp.). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00 am in St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Easton, PA. Interment will take place in St. Anthonys Cemetery, Williams Twp. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Easton Area Community Center, 901 Washington Street, Easton, PA, 18042, State Theatre, 453 Northampton Street, Easton, PA, 18042, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, 440 Heckewelder Place, Bethlehem, PA 18018