Woman Killed In Astor Place Shooting Remembered At Funeral

EAST VILLAGE, NY — A woman gunned down as she docked a Citi Bike in Astor Place last week was remembered Thursday as a devoted mother with a smile that was infectious.

Elizabeth Lee-Herman, 56, was stalked for months by a man she'd met on Match.com and dated briefly, police said. Vincent Verdi is accused of killing her on Nov. 1 before he shot himself. His wounds were not fatal.

At her funeral Thursday at Grace Church at 86 Fourth Ave., where she worked at the Grace Church School, Lee-Herman was described as a loving friend and dedicated employee whose involvement in the school started when her own kids attended it.

Rev. Robert Pennoyer, its assistant head, described working with Lee-Herman, saying he "couldn't have asked for a better colleague." He remembered how he sprinkled her conversations with endearments like "honey" and "sweetie" and brought a "contagious smile" to any room she entered.

"I'll miss the ardor with which she spoke about Grace Church School," Pennoyer said. "There was a fierce urgency to the way she wanted me to understand how special this school was and is ...and how strongly she felt supported here."

An online fundraising campaign started by officials at the school has already raised more than $100,000 to support her two children, both of whom are in their 20s.

Lee-Herman's ex-husband, Stephen Herman, remembered his former wife as a generous and magnanimous spirit, someone who thought consciously about the environment and making the world a better place for her children to live.

The service was packed by hundreds of mourners.

On Nov. 1, Verdi met Lee-Herman near Astor Place, as she was parking her bike and opened fire, killing Lee-Herman, before trying to kill himself, police said.

Verdi had not been charged in Lee-Herman's death as of Thursday.

Before her death, Lee-Herman described to authorities a pattern of harassment and stalking by Verdi after she ended their relationship in July, according to reports. Verdi, she said, sent her chocolate and flowers, followed her to a dentist appointment and to the theater, where she was on a date with another man.

Lead image courtesy of GoFundMe