Lisa Thayer Painter

On Sunday April 29, in Port Townsend, WA, Lisa Painter, 91, passed away as peacefully as she lived. 

A long-time resident of Marrowstone Island, and more recently Avamere in Port Townsend, Lisa was a generous and caring role model who supported local, state, national, and international causes. She was a graduate of Stanford University and began a career as a social worker in California. 

After moving from California and purchasing property on Marrowstone Island 40 years ago she and her predeceased partner, Jeanne Clendenon, founded the island’s volunteer ambulance service for the residents and arranged for EMT training of all volunteers. As an RN volunteer she assisted the Red Cross with disaster responses across the country. 

She supported humanity in all walks of life including providing micro-loans to low income women for housing needs and supporting scholarships for aspiring students through the American Association of University Women Scholarship Committee. She served on the Marrowstone Island Foundation Board and was awarded Lifetime Honorary Membership. She served on the Jefferson County Democrat Executive Board as District 2 Representative. She assisted many many other local organizations with her time and donations. 

A few years before her death she donated her Twin Vista Ranch property to Washington State University to create an organic agricultural research entity in cooperation with Jefferson Land Trust where the land will be perpetually protected.

Lisa is survived by her cousin, Lynn Dykstra of Vallejo, CA and Lynn’s daughters, Sharon Calandra of France and Julie Calandra of Oakland, CA; dearest friends, Rita Kepner and John Matthiesen of Marrowstone Island; distant cousins in Ohio and surrounding states and many, many, many friends and residents of Marrowstone Island, Port Townsend, and beyond. 

A private service at Sound View Cemetery will be held where Lisa will be interred alongside her life partner Jeanne Clendenon. A public celebration of Lisa’s life will be held on Marrowstone Island Wednesday, May 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Twin Vista Ranch, 6456 Flagler Rd., Nordland, WA.