Lucy Fato ’84, this year’s Sara Frazer Ellis Award recipient, has led a distinguished legal career marked by trailblazing leadership and a deep commitment to service. Currently, as the Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Land & Corporate Secretary at Seaport Entertainment Group, Lucy has held prominent leadership roles at AIG, McGraw-Hill Financial, and Marsh McLennan, among others. Her influence in the legal field extends beyond her title—she has championed corporate pro bono initiatives, expanded access to legal services for marginalized communities, and built strong mentorship networks for women attorneys across industries.

A legacy Ellisian, Lucy shares a special bond with her sisters Annamaria Fato ’79 and Miki Fato, and her nieces, Lucia Snyderman ’19 and Molly Snyderman ’07. During Reunion Weekend, she joined Annamaria on the panel Decades Apart, Bonded Forever: Alumnae Sisters, reflecting on how the values nurtured at Ellis—confidence, purpose, and compassion—have guided her both personally and professionally.

Her dedication to lifting others, especially women and underrepresented voices, is a testament to the spirit of the Sara Frazer Ellis Award: leading with excellence, integrity, and bold vision.

A proud Ellis lifer, Liz credits her coaches—especially Coach K—with teaching her resilience and teamwork, values she has carried into every chapter of her career. After playing club lacrosse at Miami University of Ohio, Liz went on to coach field hockey and softball, teach English, and lead civic-minded educational initiatives through organizations like Facing History and Ourselves and John Carroll University. Today, she serves as Executive Director of Advantage Cleveland Tennis and Education, a nonprofit that blends academic support and athletics to empower underserved youth.

From starting a tennis clinic as her Ellis senior project to leading a community-centered organization in Cleveland, Liz has come full circle. “Even though I never made it big in a sport,” she shared, “I’ve lived my life caring deeply about what sports teach us about life.”

For Sara, Ellis is equally personal—she’s now a proud Ellis parent, coach, and entrepreneur. A standout field hockey player during her time at Ellis, Sara helped lead the team to two WPIAL championships and went on to play at Rhodes College, where she was a four-year starter and two-time conference champion.

After a successful career in accounting, Sara returned to Pittsburgh with her husband and daughters in 2022. She now coaches Ellis Middle School field hockey and runs her accounting practice. Her daughters, Millie and Babe, are continuing the Ellis legacy as students in the Lower School.