Courtesy photo
Elizabeth Drago, 43, of Clinton Corners, New York, passed away on May 21, at the Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie, five weeks after suffering an intracranial hemorrhage. She and her husband, Neil W. Regan, Jr., formerly of Scranton, Pennsylvania, would have celebrated their 17th anniversary this June. Born in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, Elizabeth was the daughter of Joseph Thomas and Nancy (Marlow) Drago of the Town of Clinton, New York.
A 1997 graduate of The Millbrook School and a 2004 graduate of the Pratt Institute School of Art, Elizabeth worked in food photography – she loved food and she loved photography, and she was happy to be able to combine those two passions in her work.
Elizabeth lived every facet of her life with an abundance of grace and a lightness of spirit, whether she was playing soccer or lacrosse for Millbrook School, on a photo shoot on 27th Street in Manhattan, or teaching her son Theo how to make pancakes or assemble dumplings. Her eyes and her smile could brighten the grungiest subways of New York City and made the gorgeous sunsets in Clinton Corners even more beautiful. And in a surreal twist, those big brown eyes will live on to help another human being regain their vision – her adventure continues!
In addition to her husband and parents, she is survived by her 8-year-old son, Theo Drago-Regan; a brother, Chris Drago and partner Eric Rewilak of Stanford; Aunt “Fee” Frances Silvert of Pine Plains; Aunt Linda DeYoung of West Falmouth, Massachusetts; Aunt Anne and Uncle Warren Vose of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts; Aunt Jeanne Dillon of Louisburg, North Carolina, and Aunt Judy Marlow of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; sister-in-law Barbara Chillemi, husband Ronald and their son Jack of Ridgewood, New Jersey; brother in-law Brendan Regan and wife Sarah or Jermyn, Pennsylvania.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Grace (Douglass) and Alfred S. Marlow, Jr. and paternal grandparents, Samuel and Angelina (Monaco) Drago.
In accordance with her wishes, Elizabeth entered the organ donor program making valuable contributions through the amazing folks at LiveOn New York. A private service will be held at the Pleasant Plains Presbyterian Church near Elizabeth and Neil’s home in the Town of Clinton. A public gathering in celebration of her life will be held on August 26th, her birthday. Details will be available in a few weeks. Arrangements provided by the Neil W. Regan Funeral Home, Inc., in Scranton.
The family would like to thank the staff of Mid-Hudson Regional Medical Center for the care of Elizabeth and their farewell salute to her as an organ donor. The procession is something the family will always cherish. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Michelle Obama’s Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund and Hudson Valley Hospice, which provided memorable and comforting care to us all as we said goodbye to dear Elizabeth.