December 6, 2009

In Memoriam of Lisa Ronchi Torossi

 

Giunto cosi in alto, mentre vaghi per le vie di questo antico borgo, sii rispettoso. Della sua storia, ora fatta di silenzio di voci portate dal vento, di fiori che sono la vita, abbi cura.

Arrived so high in your journey, while wandering through the streets of this ancient borgo, be respectful of the history made of silence and voices carried by the wind, and by the flowers that are its life, take care of it.

It is with great sadness that we announce that Lisa Ronchi Torossi, architect, planner, editor, and the first Italian NIAUSI Fellow, passed away November 25, 2009, in Milan. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Orseolo Torossi, and is survived by her daughters Carlotta Torossi Boyd, with David and their sons Pietro and Tobia; and Elisabetta Torossi, with Roberto and her children Dario, Vittoria, Lisa, Stefano and Fabrizio.

Many people were graced by Lisa's passion, intelligence, and dignity. If this notice reaches any of them or other NIAUSI friends who are in or near Rome in the next couple of days, there will be a commemoration at 7PM on Monday, December 7, at the American Church of Saint Paul (San Paolo entro le Mura), Via Napoli 58, (Directions).

Lisa Ronchi was born in Treviso on September 22, 1923 and went on to become a successful architect and planner, working with Gino Valle and other noted Italian architects. She became close friends with Carlo Scarpa and his family, and eventually worked for Bruno Zevi as editor of L'architettura magazine. In this role, she established a series of seminars for Fullbright architects visiting Rome from the U.S., thus befriending many talented young US architects, including Astra Zarina, who became lifelong friends.

Lisa was a frequent and insightful juror at design reviews for the UW Architecture in Rome and Italian Hilltowns programs, meeting many students and faculty from UW. In 1994, she became the first NIAUSI Fellow to come to Seattle from Italy, and last year became a Founding Member of NIAUSI.

Lisa's family wish to thank the Oncologic Palliative Cure Center of the San Paolo Hospital in Milan for their caring assistance.

NIAUSI will include an expanded narrative on Lisa and the memorial in Rome in our upcoming newsletter and web site.

 

NIAUSI, The Skinner Building, 1326 Fifth Avenue, Suite 654, Seattle, WA 98101
www.northwestinstitute.com