Obituaries

Michelle De Cou-Landberg, ESOL Teacher and Reston Citizen of the Year

Longtime Restonian was key leader at Herndon Reston Friendly Instant Sympathetic Help (FISH).

Michelle De Cou-Landberg, 78, of Reston, died on July 26 after a battle with progressive supra nuclear palsy (PSP).

Born in France on Sept. 16, 1934, her lifetime interest in English as a universal language began at Dijon University, followed by studies under a Fulbright scholarship at Pomona College in California. Her worldly interest took her to Laos, where she taught English and met her first husband. She embarked on a career as a Foreign Service wife raising three children.

Ms. De Cou--Landberg resumed teaching shortly before her divorce in 1978, concentrating on establishing English as Second Language (ESOL) centers in Fairfax elementary schools. While teaching full time, she earned a Master's degree at George Mason University and chaired various events at TESOL annual sessions.

An author, her two-volume book "The Global Classroom" provided aid to ESOL teachers and reflected her worldly philosophy of promoting goodness in the world. She twice was a finalist for teacher of the year for Fairfax County Public Schools.

A devoted Reston resident since 1972, she began volunteering at Embry Rucker's Common Ground and later assumed leadership roles at Herndon/Reston Friendly Instant Sympathetic Help (FISH) and later at Kids R First until she said limited by her disease.

Ms. De Cou-Landberg was voted Reston Citizen of the Year in 1986.

A strong interest in Tibet as a child, fostered in discussions with her father, led to her active interest supporting a Free Tibet later in her life and a conversion to Buddhism.

Besides her loving husband of 33 years, Erik Landberg, she leaves her two sons, Michael De Cou of Mesa, Ariz., and Jack De Cou of Alpine, Wyo., and a daughter Claire De Cou of Centreville, Va., as well as a stepdaughter Vicki Peters of Westerville, Ohio.

In addition she leaves three grandchildren and three step grandchildren, innumerable nieces and nephews, and in France two brothers, a sister and a stepmother.

Private services for family and friends will be held over the next seven weeks in keeping with Buddhist traditions. Contributions in Ms. De Cou-Landberg's memory can be made to Herndon Reston FISH and the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT).
 


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