Phyllis Clemenz, 87

Phyllis Clemenz of Montauk died on July 1 at the Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Southampton of complications of dementia, which she had for five years. She was 87.

She was born in Plainfield, N.J., on May 12, 1931, to the former Alyce Rose Branston and Kenneth Clark Lambert. She grew up in the Bronx and Manhattan, graduating from Hunter High School and earning a B.A. at the College of New Rochelle. She later took graduate courses at Southampton College.

Before marrying and moving to Montauk, Ms. Clemenz had been a buyer at B. Altman and Round the Clock Hosiery, and a sales representative for Lord and Taylor. Once she was living here and married to Capt. Harry Clemenz, she was one of the first cocktail waitresses at Gurney’s Inn, a short-order chef at the Flying Fish, and a bookkeeper who also worked in real estate.

She had earlier been a Suffolk County probation officer and became a deputy clerk of Family Court in 1962 and commuted to Yaphank every day. She gave up that position after her children were born, although she worked to help children with reading and math as an aide at the Montauk School. She became the school librarian in 1969, retiring in 1996.

Ms. Clemenz participated in civic life in numerous ways. As vice president and treasurer of the Montauk Library she wrote grant applications that made it possible for the library to receive over $360,000. She was the founder and director of Montauk Youth in 1963 and the Montauk Cooperative Nursery School, which no longer exists, in 1970. She was president and a member of the Montauk School’s PTA from 1975 to 1982, and president and treasurer of the Montauk Village Association from 1969 to 1980. She also enjoyed singing and was a member of the Eastern Suffolk Sweet Adelines from 1963 to 1973. She was a parishioner of St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church in Montauk.

She and Captain Clemenz met at the beach in Montauk and married on Nov. 16, 1957. He died in May 2015. The couple had two daughters, Susan Hasselberg of Springs and Annie Clemenz of Montauk, both of whom survive, as do two grandchildren. Her sons, Kenneth Clemenz and Robert Clark Clemenz, died before her.

Ms. Clemenz read a great deal, her family said, and could hardly wait for The Sunday Times to do the crossword puzzle, in ink. She also enjoyed entertaining and cooking for friends and hosting parties on the deck of the house on West Lake Drive that she and her husband built. Most of all, they said, she adored being with her grandchildren.

Ms. Clemenz was cremated. A celebration of her life will be held in the fall. Her daughters have suggested memorial donations to the Montauk Library, 871 Montauk Highway, Montauk 11954.