"Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now." -- Goethe Elizabeth Marsh Cupino, a bold and loving soul, passed away July 23, 2015, in Frederick. She was 58 years old. Elizabeth had a radiant smile and a ready boisterous laugh. She had lived since 2011 with splenic angiosarcoma, a rare cancer that ravaged her body but could not touch her indomitable spirit. She made the most of every day she was given. She was born January 22, 1957, in Binghamton, New York. From her father, the late Robert Marsh, she inherited a sharp, skeptical mind and a love of language. Her mother, Joanne Jensen, gave her the gift of song and a generous, loving heart. She found her soulmate in her husband, James Cupino. Married in 2003, they shared deep religious faith, an irreverent sense of humor and a love of music. Their passion for travel led them to adventures all over the U.S. and to Great Britain and France. The greatest love of Elizabeth's life was her daughter, Katie Marsh Lyburn. Also dear to her heart were her sister Cynthia Marsh, stepdaughters Natalie Ritenour, Angi Cornell and , stepfather David Jensen, son-in-laws Jeff Ritenour, Russ Cornell and Bryan Lyburn, many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and the six grandchildren who called her Ribbit. Elizabeth overflowed with music and was a born performer. Whether dancing and singing at a Cactus Flats blues jam or raising her voice with the praise team at her beloved Evangelical Lutheran Church, she found joy and communion in song. She was a serious lifelong wordsmith. She kept journals from the time she could write, discovering focus and clarity of mind in the written word. For six years, she was a regular columnist for The Frederick News-Post, entertaining (and sometimes infuriating) readers with her well-crafted and forthright commentaries on life in Frederick County. Elizabeth also shared her gift in a spiritual journaling class, Dear God, that she created in 2007 to help people of all faiths use their creativity to begin spiritual conversations. She taught the class more than half a dozen times, most recently last fall. She combined her love of the written word and her natural leadership in her work as a managing editor at SRA International where she forged a far-flung group of editors into a close, productive team. She was proud of their contributions in potentially life-saving projects. Elizabeth grew up on Long Island, in Chicago and in Montgomery County, graduating in 1974 from John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring. For many years, she attended college while working to support herself and Katie. In 1994, she earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Maryland. Elizabeth loved so much of life - good books, colorful flowers, delicious food, the study of history, basking on sunny beaches, telling funny stories. She loved her work and her church. Her generous heart was devoted to her ever-expanding circle of family and friends. Her life was a grand and glorious gift. Friends and family are invited to visitation on Sunday, July 26, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Keeney & Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church St., Frederick. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, July 27, at Evangelical Lutheran Church, 35 E. Church St., Frederick. In lieu of flowers, donations in Elizabeth's honor may be made to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave., New York, NY 10065, or to Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County, 255 Clifton Blvd., #217, Westminster, MD 21157.
