BURLINGTON, Mass. — Elizabeth Sara Rogers, 55, of Lexington, Mass., died Friday, Feb. 17, after a five-year battle with ovarian cancer.

Beth was born Aug. 25, 1961, in Natick, Mass., the daughter of George and Judith (Goodell) Rogers of Litchfield.

She was a graduate of Weymouth South High School, Wellesley College, with a bachelor’s degree, and Duke University with a master’s and doctorate.

She taught political science/international relations at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland and later in the Harvard Extension School.

Beth was on the swim and tennis teams in high school and college. She continued to play tennis on local north shore teams after her cancer diagnosis.

She is survived by her parents; her husband, Stephen Van Evera; her daughters, Lydia, Eleanor and Alice Van Evera; her brother, George M. Rogers III (Patrick Watson) of Washington, D.C.; an aunt, Mary Barnard (Ken) of Augusta; uncles, Miles Goodell (Julie) of Minot, David Goodell (Mary Ann) of Portland, Geoffrey Goodell (Anya) of Nashua, N.H.; and six cousins.