Lisa Ann Giordano

1960 - 2024

Waterford - Lisa Ann Giordano, 63, of Waterford and formerly New London, passed away peacefully May 28, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She was born July 26, 1960, in New London to James and Patricia (Dube) Giordano of Waterford.

Lisa attended local schools, including Waller, Harbor, St. Joseph, and New London High Schools, graduating with honors from Saint Bernard High School in 1978. Throughout her school years, Lisa played piano and participated in softball, cheerleading, tennis and swimming. She received both her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass.

Professionally, Lisa used her biochemistry degrees working at Pfizer and to conduct environmental research for the State of Connecticut. After several years in science, Lisa pursued her lifelong passions: writing and visual art. Lisa was a co-founder and vice president of Emerson Theater Collaborative (ETC) and was ETC's resident playwright. Since 2009, her one-woman show, "Harriet Tubman's Dream," has been repeatedly performed by Lisa's ETC partner and co-founder, Camilla Ross, to great acclaim. Lisa's play, "True Nature of All Being," shed light on Minamata Disease, an epidemic of mercury poisoning due to contaminated water and fish in 1970s Japan. The play was a finalist with an honorable mention in the Eco-Drama Playwrights Festival, an international competition in California, and was awarded an honorable mention in the Clauder Competition, the New England Playwrighting Festival. In May 2022, ETC produced "True Nature of All Being" in the theater's Sedona, Ariz. branch. Lisa was a member of the Dramatist Guild, and her plays have been performed and received honors nationally. A lifelong admirer of the writer Zora Neale Hurston, Lisa was determined to start an annual reading celebrating the author's work. She tracked down Hurston's niece, a college professor at the time, arranged a meeting, and months later, in October 2012, launched the first annual reading of Zora Neale Hurston's writings in Mystic. Hurston's family were present, including her nephew, Edward Hurston, an accomplished musician who played at the event. In conjunction with the reading, Lisa wrote a one-woman show called "In Her Own Words: Zora Neale Hurston" performed by Camilla Ross.

Lisa also loved working with young people. Her calm, open demeanor and deep well of patience resonated with teens and made them feel safe. For many years, she taught at ETC's Summer Youth Theatre Program and was the first executive director of Writer's Block, InK, "a youth-led social change theater and performing arts organization," founded in 2003. Lisa gently helped students develop their own artistic voices and shepherded their performances to the stage. In addition, Lisa used her science background to write several children's musicals, including original scores and lyrics, focused on environmental issues. In 2011 and 2012, Lisa was a New London Youth Talent Show co-coordinator for performances held at the Garde Arts Center in New London.

As a visual artist, Lisa studied American Impressionism for many years with Lois Constantine, a protégé of the well-known artist, Robert Brackman. Lisa's landscape and still-life paintings have been exhibited in venues throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island. In October 2016, Lisa spearheaded the Women's Leadership Forum, an event held at the Coast Guard Academy honoring the 40th anniversary of women being accepted to the Coast Guard and the founding of the Southeastern Connecticut Women's Network and Safe Futures. The all-day event included panel discussions, brunch, and a keynote speaker and was wildly successful. Lisa was very active in the community she loved and in which she had strong roots. She truly cared about making a difference. Lisa sat on the board of directors and advisory boards of several not-for-profit organizations including The Auxiliary of Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, Emerson Theater Collaborative, and Writers' Block, InK. As a board member of the Southeastern Connecticut Women's Network (The Network), Lisa was honored with The Network's "Woman of the Year Award" in 2022.

Lisa was a faithful, observant Catholic, and a deeply spiritual person in general, open to learning about many religions and beliefs. The renowned Buddhist monk, peace activist and poet, Thich Nhat Hanh, was her teacher. Lisa wholly embraced the tenets of Buddhism that meditation and kindness are ways to achieve enlightenment. Lisa was kind to all. Never one to seek the spotlight or accolades, Lisa was content quietly making things happen behind the scenes. She was unfailingly supportive and encouraging of others and was generous and selfless to a fault, regardless of her personal health or resources.

Nothing mattered more to Lisa than her many friends and family. She adored her five nephews and nieces, sharing a unique bond with each of them and celebrating their individual talents. No one cheered louder at a dance or piano recital, a basketball, hockey, or lacrosse game than Auntie Lisa. She knew how to make everyone feel special.

Lisa is survived by her parents, James and Patricia Giordano of Waterford; her sisters, Anne Giordano and her husband Kevin White of Ridgefield, and Jamie Giordano and her husband Ed Siciliano of Groton. She was the beloved "Auntie" to her nephews and nieces: Jarrett Giordano White, Aubrey Giordano White, Gavin Giordano White, Tessa Giordano White, and Cole Giordano Siciliano. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Lisa was predeceased by her sister, Dina, in 1966.

Her family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 14, at Impellitteri-Malia Funeral Home, 84 Montauk Avenue, New London. Her funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 15, in St. Joseph Church, 149 Montauk Avenue, New London. Interment will immediately follow at St. Mary Cemetery, New London. For any contributions, please consider the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. OCRA, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10021, www.ocrahope.org.