03/09/2026
With sadness and also gratitude for her long life and faithful witness, we share the news that our beloved Liz Specht has died at the age of 97, surrounded by loving family and friends; she now rejoins her husband of over 70 years, Ed Specht, in the loving arms of God. Liz was a member of St. John’s for over 50 years; she was a leader in the early days of Mission Graduates (), or St. John’s Tutoring Center as it was first known, which now serves hundreds of children across San Francisco. She was a co-founder of El Porvenir (elporvenir_nica) water project in Nicaragua, which supports reforestation and brings clean water to rural villages. She was a longtime parish leader, leader of our contemplative prayer team, and lay Eucharistic minister. Liz was the person all of us sent our prayer requests to because we knew she would storm heaven for us—as we hope she will continue to do! She was tiny in stature and also a formidable woman of determination and perseverance. Liz was a living saint in our scrappy little church; may the angels now lead her home.
Her requiem mass will be at 3pm this Wednesday, March 11, at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior in Mill Valley, CA (her hometown), led by folks from both congregations. All who knew and who love Liz are welcome.
Give rest, O Christ, to your servant Elizabeth with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
Elizabeth Specht
January 28, 1929 - March 6, 2026
