MAY 29, 1946-APRIL 22, 2013

Lois Blumenthal, 66, died peacefully at home Monday, April 22, 2013, in Grand Cayman with her family by her side.

Born in Chicago, she was the first child and only daughter of Sarah Dwyer and the late William Dwyer Sr.

Lois is survived by her husband, James; daughter, Janice and husband, Gary; son, David; brothers, Daniel and wife, Cindy, Timothy and wife, Hilda, and William Jr.; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by brothers, Michael and Matthew.

Lois grew up in Hagerstown, Md., and attended North Hagerstown High School.

She loved the outdoors, music, reading, scuba diving and travel.

As a mother, she inspired many who knew her. She was an advocate of breast-feeding and home schooling, and shunned all punishment of children, preferring to employ trust, friendship and unconditional love to cultivate good behavior and responsibility.

She was a prolific writer and advocate for nature. She initiated the Cayman Islands Bat Conservation Program, which is the most successful in the Caribbean, and acclaimed as a prototype for tropical countries.

She was secretary of the National Trust Council, founded Cayman Wildlife Rescue and Cayman Wildlife Connection, wrote numerous articles for local and international publications, developed materials for schools, spoke to adults and in classrooms, and led nature walks.

She felt strongly that the community benefits socially and economically from the preservation of ecosystems and that a closer connection to the natural world creates a more positive outlook in children and adults.

Final services will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to Bat World Sanctuary, 217 N. Oak Ave., Mineral Wells, TX 76067-4946 (http://batworld.org/ways-to-donate).