Teresa Montant Dies At 54

Teresa Montant

Teresa Montant, secretary to the Shelter Island highway supervisor and commissioner of public works and a former director at Camp Quinipet, died in Lucia’s Room at Southampton Hospital on Thursday, October 27, from a two-year battle with metastatic triple negative breast cancer. She was 54.

Ms. Montant was born in Owensboro, Kentucky, to Shirley and Cliff Lacy, on September 13, 1957, with her twin brother Mark Lacy. She grew up in Aurora, Illinois, and graduated from West Aurora High School in 1975.

After traveling the country in the late 1970s, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Alderson Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia, in 1996. She moved to Florida and began a career at the United Methodist Church as their first female youth director. She worked as a recreational leader for the City of Stuart, Florida, and for the Martin County Parks and Recreation Department. In 1997, Ms. Montant earned a master’s degree in theological studies at the Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida.

She met her husband Townsend “Towny” Montant in Stuart, Florida, in 1980. She moved to Shelter Island in 1998 and they were married in 1999 in Jamaica. She and Towny enjoyed many years together on Shelter Island, built their first home together, and formed lasting friendships with their neighbors and community members. Ms. Montant loved swimming, gardening, kayaking, golf and hiking.

She was a member of the Shelter Island Country Club, the Shelter Island Lions club, and was a booster member of the American Legion.

Over the last few years, Ms. Montant was instrumental in raising awareness of breast density and breast cancer by instituting the “Real Men Wear Pink” event on Shelter Island. She was also working on promoting legislation in order to educate women about breast density.

The support Ms. Montant received from the Shelter Island community will never be forgotten, family said. She will be missed greatly by all her friends and family.

Ms. Montant is survived by siblings, Mark Lacy of Washington, Mary Lacy of Colorado, David Lacy of Illinois, and Patricia Harris of Colorado; and many cherished nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, a sister, Peggy Lacy, a brother, Mike Lacy and a step-sister Beth Garrity.

Memorial donations made to Are You Dense, 96 Rowley Road, Woodbury, CT 06798; East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048 Westhampton Beach, NY 11978; or Lucia’s Angels, 10 Oak Street, Southampton, NY 11968, would be appreciated by friends and family.