Lisa was always about putting her best foot forward, with intelligent wit, that dazzling white smile and the right pair of pumps. Born and raised in Toronto, Lisa was the youngest daughter to Lucy and Lino Richter, and sister to Anna. Welcomed into this northern Italian immigrant family household by Nonni who gathered extended family and friends all around their table of good food and drink, Lisa developed her palette and a taste for good times (and a bit of grappa and the ability to see a ‘péluk’ at 10 paces).

Borne by an enquiring mind, Lisa was an excellent student who was twice accelerated. Upon graduation from the elite Arts and Science program at MacMaster University, Lisa was offered a permanent position at RBC as a credit officer quickly rising to branch manager.

Lisa fell in love with Michael and they embarked on their life together in 1994, marrying in 1998. Together they travelled to Italy, Paris, Miami, Atlantic Canada, elsewhere and most often to London UK. Lisa and Michael also enlivened extended family gatherings in the city, country and at cottages, especially engaging with their five nieces and nephew as they sprouted from infancy to adulthood. Lisa adored them all and spoke proudly and mirthfully of their unique adventures.

Lisa was invited to pursue an EMBA which was conferred by Rotman, U of T. Lisa continued at RBC as Senior Manager of National Group Risk Management, as Director of Retail Credit Transformation Risk, as Head of Policy for Home Equity, as Senior Director of Business Risk Automotive, and most recently as a Senior Director of Operational Resilience, Banking Operations. Lisa holds an ICD.D.

In staff, management and leadership roles, Lisa’s diligence, perceptiveness, and energetic wit brought vitality to the tasks and vibrancy to the vision. Her inherent ability to work collaboratively fostered cohesive teams. Lisa generously mentored people of all genders at RBC and was active in the Women in Finance committee. Lisa championed equity, diversity and inclusion in her work and throughout her life.

Beyond the bank, Lisa and Michael enjoyed and supported the National Ballet for decades, along with Tafelmusik, holding memberships at museums and galleries worldwide. In recent years, Lisa served as Chair and a member of the Board at the Citadel & Compagnie Theatre. An advocate for creativity, Lisa was also a muse for Sandie’s fashion artistry.

Lisa lived her life beyond the bell curve. In the last few months, Lisa invoked her motto ‘corragio’ as she battled cancer with an invincible positivity. Striving to continue to be that outlier, supported lovingly and tenaciously by her husband Michael and ‘Team Lisa’, Lisa’s positive spirit was commended by her health care team. Lisa passed peacefully in a room with a view across snow covered trees to the Vaughan Estate where she and Michael had happily celebrated their wedding reception.

Lisa will be very dearly missed by her husband Michael, parents Lucy and Lino, sister Anna (Bill), sister-in law Kate (John), brother in law Mark (Mindy), in-laws Ann (Brian) and Drew (Laura), godparents and Zii Nico and Bruno, godmother Helen, dear friends Sandie and Toby, nieces and nephew Adrienne, Angela, Christopher, Jack (aka Jessie) and Maddie, as well as Zii, cousins and many friends and neighbours.

Lisa is resting at Mount Pleasant Funeral Centre. Visitations will be held on Wednesday January 22, 2025 from 3pm-7pm and briefly at 10-10:30am just before the funeral service for Lisa at 11am on Thursday January 23, 2025 in the Funeral Centre. Reception at the Funeral Centre to follow the funeral service. There will be a private cremation.

In lieu of flowers, tribute donations may be made to Sunnybrook Foundation https://donate.sunnybrook.ca/tribute?utm_source=sunnybrook&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=waystogivemenu&utm_content=inmemory

The family would like to extend their gratitude to Lisa’s superb team of physicians and nurses at Sunnybrook, especially Drs Anthony Lott, Lucy Federico, Hany Soliman, Amy Nolan and Debbie Selby for compassionate and attentive care.