LISA T. PAINTER

July 8, 1926 – April 29, 2018

Lisa T. Painter was active with AAUW since 1996 and rejoined Port Townsend Branch in 2013. A graduate of Stanford University, Lisa worked as a grade school teacher in Orinda and Oakland, California.  In Orinda, she taught students from high-income families.  Later, Lisa accepted a position in a very low-income part of Oakland.  Lisa found the educational contrast dramatically different and life-changing. She continued her career as an employment counselor at a Youth Opportunity Center for the State of California and became the Counseling Supervisor for all the Centers in Northern California.

Lisa met her partner and the two of them found their dream place, an organic farm/ranch on Marrowstone Island.  They both earned nursing degrees and volunteered nationally and internationally with the American Red Cross.  They were the founders of the Marrowstone Island all-volunteer ambulance, a non-profit organization, which served islanders for many years until taken over by East Jefferson Fire and Rescue.

After Lisa’s partner died, Lisa arranged to donate their acreage to Washington State University, with oversight from Jefferson Land Trust, for permanent use as a learning environment for organic farming, ranching and research. Lisa retained a life-estate in the house where she enjoyed watching all the learning activities, observing the development of new plants and enjoying the arrival and growth of new calves, lambs, pigs and chickens.  Over the decades, Lisa  quietly supported local artists and a variety of regional and national giving activities.

Read PT Leader news about Lisa’s award as Woman of Excellence…