Shirley Elizabeth Thompson Glanz

Long time Southampton resident Shirley Elizabeth Thompson Glanz passed away peacefully May 30, 2015, at the age of 90 at her home at Peconic Landing in Greenport. 

Shirley’s husband Edward Coleman Glanz, first president of Southampton College of Long Island University predeceased her in 1986 at the age of 61.

Shirley was born Dec. 26, 1924, in Bridgeport, Conn. to parents Dorothy Elizabeth Merkwacz and Paul William Thompson. Shirley is a descendant of Anthony Thompson, one of the original founders of the 1638 New Haven colony in Connecticut. A member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Shirley is a sixth generation descendant of Thaddeus Thompson, a drummer boy and soldier in the Revolutionary War who wintered at Valley Forge and was wounded at the Battle of Yorktown.

Shirley met her future husband Edward in first grade at Norwalk, Conn. and married then U.S. Army Air Corps second lieutenant Edward Glanz in Georgia, Aug. 3, 1944, while she was attending nursing school in Connecticut. Sons Erich Coleman Glanz and Gary Tristan Glanz were born when Shirley and Ed lived in Hamden Conn. The family moved to Sharon, Mass. and then in 1963 to Southampton, N.Y. where Shirley helped her husband Edward create Southampton College. In Southampton, Shirley was active in First Presbyterian Church and a member of the local DAR chapter.

During the 1970s and 1980s Shirley’s five grandchildren were born, the loves of her life; Andrew Coleman Glanz, Tristan Anthony Glanz, Devin Anthony Glanz, Emilie Estelle Glanz Nobles and Julia Ann Glanz.

In 2002 Shirley moved to Peconic Landing in Greenport. Shirley was a “Peconic Landing Pioneer” and ambassador for Peconic Landing, often extolling the virtues of life there to all as she enjoyed playing bridge, attending operas and having dinner with friends. Shirley also enjoyed many family gatherings at Peconic Landing that she lovingly referred to as “ExtravaGlanzas.” Shirley’s seven greatgrandchildren
were born during her years at Peconic Landing; Anthony Douglas Glanz, Bailey Elizabeth Nobles, Dylan Edward Glanz, Margaret Elizabeth Glanz, Natalie Susan Glanz, Trevor Tristan Glanz and Edward Coleman Glanz II.

Shirley is survived by her brother George Thompson of Fayetteville, Ohio; two sons, Erich
Coleman Glanz and wife Barbara of Bayport, and Gary Tristan Glanz and wife Diane
of Southampton; five grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and three granddaughters-in-law, Diana Dunkirk Glanz, Kelly Dunkirk Glanz and Liza Cruz Glanz.

Cremation service is private. Memorial donations may be made to the Peconic Landing
Employee Appreciation Fund in Greenport.

Arrangements entrusted to DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes.

This is a paid notice.