Lee Healey, a free-lance journalist and children's book writer, and a longtime Port Washington resident, died May 25, 2003 in Cesky Dub in the northern Czech Republic. Mrs. Healey, who was 65, suffered an embolism and died in her sleep while visiting her elder son, Matthew, and his family at their country cottage.

Mr. Healey and her husband, Barth, an editor at The New York Times, had just completed a semester teaching at the Anglo-American College in Prague, where he had a Fulbright Lectureship in journalism and she taught an intensive English course.

Mrs. Healey was born Natalie Marion Gelfer in London, where she worked as a feature writer for The Jewish Chronicle before coming to NY in the early 1950s. She worked briefly for The New York Times, where she and Barth met on Election Night in 1964.

They moved to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) where they were married in 1966 and she worked as a correspondent for The Observer of London and Religious News Service. From 1969 to 1978, they worked as journalists in Rome, she as Vatican correspondent for Religious News Service and he as a regional reporter for AP-Dow Jones News Services.

The Healeys moved to Port Washington in 1979, where Mrs. Healey wrote free lance for The New York Times and they served as co-editors of Changemakers, the magazine of Ashoka, a group that fosters social entrepreneurship in developing countries. She also wrote fiction for children.

She was a longtime editor of the Port Washington newsletter and was a volunteer teacher of English as a second language at the Port Library. She was a stamp collector and an avid gardener, active at Clark Garden in Albertson.

Mrs. Healey is survived by her husband; by their son Matthew, director of corporate design for T-Mobile in Prague; his wife, Dagmar, and their son, Nicolas; by their son Adam, an entrepreneur in Prague and Thailand for the past six years; by her sister, Pamela of Rovigo, Italy; and by a niece, Roberta, also of Rovigo.

Mrs. Healey was buried on June 3 at the Jewish Cemetery in Rovigo, where her mother is also buried. A memorial service is planned at Port Jewish Center, 20 Manorhaven Blvd., on Aug. 8 at noon. Memorial contributions can be made to the Rabbi's Fund at Port Jewish.

Steffie DeMeo passed away on June 15, 2003. She lived in Port Washington until 1979, then moved to Ormond Beach, FL, with her late husband Vic. Steffie was a supervisor for Publishers Clearinghouse for over 17 years. She is survived by her son Nick (Linda) and their children Nick and Nicole; daughter Chris of Texas; daughter Charlene Haughney (Glenn), their children Scott and Jamie; daughter Cynthia Morrison (John), their children, Jason and the late Doug. She was buried on her 81st birthday on June 20, 2003 at Nassau Knolls Cemetery. Howard R. Dietz, 67, of Bayshore, formerly of Port Washington, died on June 22, 2003. He is survived by his two children, Christopher and Cheryl; and his sister Marilyn Buckley (John Bruce). Arrangements were made by the Austin F. Knowles Funeral Home, Port Washington. Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Fatima Church. Entombment St. John's Cemetery. Geoffrey Lawrence Hickson, a lifelong resident of Port Washington, died suddenly on June 23, 2003. He was 58. Geoffrey attended St. Peter of Alcantara School here in Port, St. Mary's High School in Manhasset, Fairfield University and later he studied at C.W. Post College. He served with distinction on active duty with the US Army throughout South East Asia and various stateside assignments from 1966 through 1969 and left the reserves in 1973. Geoffrey was active with Port Washington's Town Dock Theatre and with The Play Troupe having appeared in many productions including Life with Father, Sunrise at Campobello, A Man for All Seasons, The Marowitz Hamlet, Macbeth, Measure for Measure and Inherit the Wind. Over the past few years he had become involved in social work and had until recently assisted and counseled homeless veterans at the Veteran's Hospital in Northport. Geoffrey is survived by his daughter Gillian Hickson; his father William A. (Bee) Hickson Jr.; and his brother Kevin Hickson; as well as nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Peter of Alcantara RC Church. Interment was at the National Veteran's Cemetery in Calverton. Shirley B. Shain, of Port Washington, died on June 29, 2003. She was predeceased by her husband Irving. She is survived by her children, Jay (Jenny), Randy (Michelle) and Shelley Jarzyna (Michael); her sister Iris Weisman (Sidney); six grandchildren and her niece Renee Michelsen (Steve). Arrangements were made by the Austin F. Knowles Funeral Home, Port Washington. Religious service was held on July 1. Interment Nassau Knolls Cemetery. Donations in her name can be made to the North Shore Animal League, 25 Davis Ave., Port Washington, NY 11050.

Imogene M. Brewster, formerly of Port Washington, died on July 1, 2003, just four days shy of her 84th birthday. She was the daughter of Herbert Eugene Miller and Emma Cornelia Miller. She had been employed in the 1940s as a secretary at Esquire magazine, before settling into her truly distinguished career as a devoted wife and mother. While living in Port Washington, she was actively involved with the PTA, the public library as well as St. Stephen's Church. It was life's simplest pleasures which gave her the greatest joys; a bouquet of fresh flowers, the successful completion of the Sunday Times crossword puzzle, a day at the beach, conversing with her loving husband, dancing with her children, hugging her grandchildren, playing bridge with friends and laughter.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Francis Sanford Brewster of High Falls, NY; four daughters, Wendy B. Kopley of Skaneateles, NY, Karen Brewster Halstead of NYC and Poughkeepsie, Sandra Brewster of Port Jefferson, and Gene B. Nelson of Waterbury, VT; sons-in-law, John D. Kopley, Tom Halstead, Erik A. Nelson; four grandsons, Adam and Matthew Kopley, Keith and Kevin Nelson; her brother Donald Eugene Miller or Troy, NY, his wife Cathy Miller and their children.

Arrangements were made by the Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home, Kingston, NY. A celebration of life will be held at the Episcopal Church of Christ the King in Stone Ridge at a date to be announced.