LISA O'CONNOR

Lisa Cabiale O'Connor 1937-2012 74, of Mill Valley, peacefully passed away Monday, April 16, 2012 at her home after a long battle with lung cancer. A Rosary service will be at 7 p.m., Friday, April 20 and the funeral service will be at 11a.m., Saturday, April 21, followed by a reception, all at St. Hilary Church, 761 Hilary Dr., Tiburon, CA. Lisa was born on August 16, 1937 in Oakland to parents Dorothy and Luigi Cabiale. She was raised in the Bay Area, and was a familiar presence at her father's restaurant, Luigi's Bohemian Grotto, in Jack London Square. She attended Dominican Convent High School in San Rafael, CA, the University of Oregon and graduated with a Master's Degree from Cal State University Los Angeles. She became a licensed speech pathologist, and throughout her career has worked in private practice, clinical and academia in both Los Angeles and the Bay Area. For more than 20 years, Lisa was an associate professor and director of the Speech-Language Clinic at Cal State LA. Lisa and David moved to Mill Valley in 2003 to be near the center of her universe, their only granddaughter, Taylor. Lisa worked as a speech pathologist for STAR Academy of San Rafael and Progressus Therapy of Marin, also serving as the early intervention service provider. Throughout her career, Lisa concurrently worked in private practice. She loved working with children, making a profound difference in their lives by providing a voice and a future for many who struggled to communicate. Lisa served for four years as president of the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CSHA). For more than 12 years, Lisa served on the Legislative Advisory Council and as chair Ad Hoc Committee on Supervision for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Likewise, Lisa was a member of the Executive Board of the Council for Exceptional Children, as well as the President and Executive Board member of the Council of State Association Presidents, and on the Southern California Medical Speech Pathology and Audiology Council. She also was appointed by the Governor to serve on the California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Licensing Board by the Governor of California, where she served as Chair. Lisa was recognized many times for her accomplishments in the speech-language profession. She was awarded the status of Fellow by both ASHA and CSHA, which is given to members who have shown outstanding contribution to the professions. In 2010, Lisa was presented with the State Clinical Achievement Award for California for efforts to facilitate the development of standards and promote appropriate and effective clinical supervision, and received the CSHA Lifetime Achievement Award and its highest recognition, the HONORS Award. Lisa was a woman of many talents. She was as adept speaking in front of a classroom or professional forum, as she was working her culinary magic in the family kitchen. She had a keen sense of style and grace, and was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Lisa graciously offered her special talents to bring joy into others' lives and to help make her community better through her philanthropic and community involvement. Lisa is survived by her husband of 55 years, David; daughter Michela O'Connor Abrams and her husband, Alan; and granddaughter Taylor Elizabeth Abrams, and her furry grandson, Joey, all of Mill Valley. Lisa was preceded in death by her parents and half-sister, Ada Ammirati. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Lisa O'Connor Scholarship Fund at Cal State L.A, payable to CSU LA Foundation, and write "Lisa O'Connor Scholarship" on note line; mail to: Maria Magolske, Cal State L.A. Development Office, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles 90032. Remembrances also can be made to the Dolphin Research Center, 58901 Overseas Hwy., Grassy Key, FL 33050; note "in memory of Lisa O'Connor."