Elizabeth Dacosta Ahern

Elizabeth DaCosta Ahern, a renowned painter and resident of Waltham, Massachusetts passed away on April 19, 2020 at the age of 81 of COVID-19. 

Elizabeth is survived by Thomas J Ahern, Jr., her husband of 59 years; her son Gregory Ahern and granddaughter Jasmine Ahern, of Evergreen, Colorado; and her daughter, Caitlin Ahern, her husband Tom Dolan, and grandchildren, Ava and Thomas Dolan, all of Belmont, Massachusetts. She is also survived by her two sisters, Judyth Holton and her husband, Robert of Wilmington, Delaware and Lolle DaCosta and her partner, Dennis Agrigado of Hilo, Hawaii. She also leaves nieces Kimberly Holton and Laurie Holton, nephew Robert Holton and their families.

Elizabeth was born in East Providence, Rhode Island on July 24, 1938 to Antonio and Beatrice DaCosta. She was educated at Bay View Academy, Boston University, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University in Boston. She was selected by Helen Frankenthaler, one of her greatest influences, for painting tutorials in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

An accomplished artist, Elizabeth painted daily, most recently at her studio in Framingham, Massachusetts. Her paintings are represented in many institutions, galleries, museums and private collections. Elizabeth was selected by the State Department for the American Artist Abroad Program to present and lecture on her work in Portugal and Angola. Her paintings have been exhibited in US Embassies throughout Europe.

An inspiring teacher, Elizabeth was a faculty member at DeCordova Museum School for decades, the Worcester Art Museum and Lesley University. She conducted private workshops for students in New Mexico, Greece, Portugal and Italy, and most recently for a group of devoted master class artists in Lincoln, Massachusetts. 

Due to current events, a celebration of her life will be held at a future date. 

Elizabeth was loving, kind, curious and articulate in many ways, and will be loved forever.

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