Lisa Kay Lotzkar (aka Mom, Mosh, Lisamom, Grandma, Gramma, Aunt Lis, Lis, Mrs. Lotzkar, Pooh), 68, of St. Petersburg, Florida, passed peacefully in her sleep at home on November 1st, 2025.  

Lisa was born on February 22, 1957, in St. Petersburg, Florida as the second daughter to Clifford and Ruth Bonbrake. She joined her big sister Bonnie (71), and in 1960, their little sister, Victoria (65), was born, which created an inseparable sister trio throughout the years of their lives.  

During her early years, Lisa attended Bay Vista Elementary School, Bay Point Junior High School, and then completed her pre-college schooling with her graduation from Lakewood High School. While in high school, she was an active participant in Drama Club as a member of the Thespian Society (which should not be a surprise to anyone who knew her - she loved the theatre), played the oboe in the LHS band during concert season (the oboe continued to be one of her favorite instruments to listen to in music), walked with the LHS band drummers in the band post-concert season (she hated the wool outfits in the Florida heat!), and was a part of the LHS Work Program in which she would attend classes in the morning and then work afternoons at the dental office of Dr. George Biggs (she would later marry Michael Lotzkar in 1978 - who was a dentist).  

Lisa held an avid interest in becoming an adventurous archeologist and maintained a keen curiosity in it; however, she made a decision bigger than herself - to enrich the young lives of those around her by committing to a life of teaching. Post-graduation, Lisa moved to Gainesville, Florida to attend Santa Fe Community College and subsequently, the University of Florida (Go Gators!), where she eventually graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education.  

Lisa taught in Hillsborough County for her entire teaching career across numerous schools such as (but not limited to): Claywell Elementary, Essrig Elementary, Adams Middle School, Hillsborough High School, and - with a little dip into the private school scene - at Independent Day School. Her experience spanned from Pre-Kindergarten to High School, with a little bit of Drama Class sprinkled in. She devoted herself to her position as an Educator, with a deep focus in the Reading world for the majority of her career. Lisa also served as a member of the Classroom Teachers Association (CTA) representing her colleagues in union discussions and decisions. She consistently put the needs of her peers in front of her own by standing up for what she felt was right even if it was hard (“...and raise your voice every single time they try and shut your mouth”). She was a creative and empathic teacher who touched the lives of countless young people, finally retiring in 2022 after approximately 41 years of dedication to the enrichment of others.  

While Lisa dedicated her life to her students, she also dedicated herself to her children (as well as her nephew, Aaron [44] and her niece, Sara [49]) as a Mother/Aunt (and eventually, a Grandma). Her deep relationship with Aaron and Sara prepared her for her own children - her daughter, Jessica (39), and her son, Benjamin (33). She also happily claimed a family friend, Matthew (37), as her second-son, something she committed herself to in being there for him through tears and laughter.  

Growing up with Mom was an adventure - whether it was laughing to made-up Enya lyrics; watching Saturday Night Live; randomly bursting into song if something someone said reminded her of a song lyric; eating hot croissants at Port Orleans in Orlando, Florida during one of many Disney trips; watching Robin Williams live on tour (or any other various stand-up comedian); attending numerous live concerts throughout the years; searching for Beanie Babies in the height of the TY craze; being a constant at holidays with her recipes whether it was broccoli casserole, artichoke heart dip, or her chocolate tart; laughing to Monty Python (“She turned me into newt! I got better.”); dancing at N*SYNC’s No Strings Attached Tour (“It’s gonna be May”); eating bubble bread at Sanibel Island’s The Bubble Room; blasting Elton John, James Taylor, or Bette Midler on the radio while making her car “dance” through the streets, specifically at a red light; screaming for her life on the Busch Garden’s Sesame Street Grover Coaster; obsessively watching the TV shows, LOST, Breaking Bad, and Dexter; quoting Tupac Shakur or Shel Silverstein poetry; collecting shells on the beach; walking through the “snow” at Magic Kingdom during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party; playing video games with her kids (whether it was snowboarding down the mountain in SSX Tricky, or being shot by Ben while trying to play Call of Duty with him); cheering at several Tampa Bay Lightning games; watching her children try different activities (e.g., dance, karate, soccer, drama); hiking in the mountains of Crested Butte, Colorado; reading stories out loud while using silly voices; making chocolate chip Mickey pancakes for her daughter’s sleepover; watching live musical theatre (and trying not sing, but never succeeding); and her last big event - attending My Chemical Romance’s resurrected Black Parade Tour with Jessica in September 2025.  

As a Mother, Lisa found her purpose in life. As a Grandmother, Lisa thrived and found even more purpose. While she identified much of her life as a Mother and Teacher, the births of her grandchildren, Miles (6) and Emmett (4), brought a new light to her life that had not existed before 2019 and 2021. While it wasn’t always easy to travel up to Massachusetts, Lisa made all attempts to be available to her grandchildren through video calling. Miles and Emmett would call her randomly, and it was honestly the most incredible part of her life to this point. Miles and Emmett shared a story that they took “Grandma” or “Gramma” to the park with the video call on a tablet so that she could go down the slide - which they pushed the tablet and Grandma called out, “Ahhhhh!” as her technological body slid to the bottom of the slide. Miles would say, “No one is funnier than my Grandma - no one.” Her humor and keen ability to crack jokes was the light of many peoples’ lives over the years, and that resonated through to her grandchildren until the very end.  

Lisa had an unmatched kindness, a deeply empathetic nature, a wicked sense of humor, and a penchant for listening when someone needed her the most. She had one of the best smiles, and used it constantly. She served as a bright and nurturing light to many, and even at her lowest points, there was always a sweetness and love that she had for others that made sure that you felt loved no matter what, including service staff at her school, restaurants, and other various events. As her humor was described by Miles, her laughter was a top attribute - infectious and always left you feeling happy. Lisa always treated everyone around her like family, and if you knew Lisa, she could talk to a brick wall and the brick wall would then tell her everything about itself while laughing at her jokes. Strangers would be drawn to her and would tell her their life stories. It was the Lisa Experience.

Lisa is survived by so many who loved her: her daughter, Jessica; her son, Benjamin; her two grandchildren, Miles and Emmett; her three furry grandchildren: Butterbeer, Batman, and Binx; Jessica’s partner, Chris; Miles’ and Emmett’s mother, Allie; her second son, Matthew (and his partner, James); her sisters, Bonnie and Victoria (and their partners, Martin and Robert); her nephew Aaron; her niece Sara (and her partner, Andrew); and hundreds of students, family members, and friends. She is predeceased by her parents, Clifford (57) and Ruth (77); and her former husband, Michael (54), to whom she was married for 19 years.

Lisa will be deeply missed by many. Her enormous presence has left a colossal hole in countless lives. One can only hope she is living on in some other capacity, making Robin Williams laugh, sharing a story with Chester Bennington, singing with John Lennon, and giggling with Chris Farley.  

"If you're going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can't be erased." - Maya Angelou  

***   In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local library in Lisa Lotzkar's name to continue the reading support (which she dedicated her life to) for the children of our future and beyond - we thank you in her memory. Instead of a funeral, a Celebration of Life has been scheduled for early 2026 with limited attendance.