Lisa Christine Wissmar

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Lisa Christine Wissmar (née Ferraro) on February 15, 2026.


Born on May 3, 1960, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Lisa was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, as well as an athlete, entrepreneur, and most important to her, an educator and nurturer of children.


The middle of seven sisters, she moved to Westwood, Massachusetts with her family at twelve and frequently pitched in teaching when her parents founded the Gymnastic Academy of Boston (GAB) in 1972, one of the first gymnastics facilities in the state for children. Lisa also trained as a gymnast and diver herself.


Lisa excelled at coaching and loved guiding and building confidence in the youngest gymnasts. After graduating from Westwood High School in 1978, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education from the University of Maryland at College Park in 1983, where she was also a Division 1 diver.


After graduation, she began to focus on business management under her mother's guidance and learned advanced coaching techniques from her father. The family business grew with new facilities across Greater Boston. In 2004, Lisa decided to strike out on her own and opened All Around Gymnastic Academy, in Plainville, MA. She built a thriving program that won top awards for gymnastics excellence, but most importantly to Lisa, developed a reputation for fostering confidence and resilience in students.


While working at a summer job at Yellowstone National Park in 1982, she met Mark Wissmar. Their shared love of nature and adventure sparked an immediate bond, and instead of returning to his home in Maui, Hawaii, he moved east to be with Lisa. Married for forty years, Lisa and Mark raised their two children, Colin and Kristen, in Westwood, and traveled all over the globe with their family and often, with Lisa's entire extended family.

She loved making family trips to Maui—Mark's birthplace—as well as adventures across the U.S., Europe, Egypt, Australia, the Philippines, Africa, and the Galapagos. She delighted in meeting new people and truly understanding their stories. Mark and Lisa were fortunate to share a 40th Anniversary trip to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam last year. Maui and Cape Cod particularly hold special places in her heart.

A lifelong learner, Lisa became a student of positive psychology in 2007, taking courses and attending international conferences. She implemented its teachings into every aspect of coaching and business leadership, as well as her personal life. At her gym, Lisa cultivated a culture that empowered staff, welcomed all regardless of talent, and encouraged students to grow not just as athletes but as confident and compassionate individuals. She was so proud when students returned as adults to enroll their growing families and when students returned to become staff. This happened frequently.

Over the past ten months, Lisa battled a rare form of leukemia (AML), by exhibiting strength, grace, compassion, and courage. Even during this most difficult chapter, she remained the embodiment of kindness, gratitude, and positivity.


Lisa remained athletic and active throughout her life, whether it was playing tennis or pickleball, ballroom dancing, spending a day out on the kayak, taking nature walks, or throwing a party with such grace and hospitality, she made each guest feel welcome, valued and at home. She was also an avid gardener and crafter, and carried on a tradition of her grandmother's and aunt's by throwing an annual holiday craft party, where all her guests had a gift to take home.


Above all, Lisa's greatest joy was in her family, most recently the births of her granddaughter Cici in 2022 and Anna in 2025. Lisa once said she had been training to be a grandmother her entire life. Just as she had been as a mother, Lisa embraced her role as "Grandma" with caring, hands-on, attentive, playful, compassionate nurturing. In their laughter and milestones, she found happiness and joy.

Lisa is survived by her husband of forty years, Mark Wissmar; her daughter Kristen Wissmar and son-in-law Alex Orsi; her beloved granddaughters Cecilia ("Cici") and Anna; her parents Bob and Nancy Ferraro; her sisters Gayle Ferraro, Vicki (Ferraro) McPherson, Cindy (Ferraro) Reilly, Leslie Ferraro, Beth Ferraro, and Bobbie Ferraro; and an extended family of many nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, cousins, great-nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, and dear friends.

Lisa was predeceased by her cherished son, Colin Wissmar.

Lisa will be remembered for her infectious laughter, her radiant smile, and her extraordinary ability to bring out the very best in everyone around her. Her legacy is one of kindness and joy, an enduring reminder to live with gratitude, optimism, courage, and above all, love.

A Celebration of Lisa's Life will be held on February 28, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Denis Church, 157 Washington Street in Westwood.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Lisa's life may consider a donation to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, in gratitude for their care and research, or to Hale Reservation, a place that reflected her love of nature and community.