Pillar of Two Communities Passes: Lisa Merryman

Longtime San Clemente resident Lisa Merryman, vice president on the Casa Romantica Board and archivist at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano passed last week. Her memorial service was Saturday.

Merryman was with the private school since it opened in 1979, first as a substitute teacher and lunch monitor. For the 1981-82 school year, she was hired as a full-time middle school teacher and became dean of faculty in 1994.

“Lisa had a talent for recognizing the strengths and achievements of others and knowing the importance of that in our school. She had a very generous heart. She wrote a faculty glossary book of St. Margaret’s vocabulary to help new teachers assimilate,” said David Boyle, former associate headmaster, who worked with Lisa since 1980 in a school blog. “She implemented many programs and elements that built the culture of St. Margaret’s that we know today. There are so many vestiges there [at St. Margaret’s], that are her.”

In 2005, Merryman “semi-retired” and became the school’s first archivist and an on-call substitute. She also continued to teach a study skills course in the summer, according to the school.

Merryman authored several books, including Casa Romantica, a Spanish Home by the Sea which she spent 18 months researching and writing, according to a notice sent out by the Casa.

“She was a bright light in the Casa Family and she will be deeply missed,” says the email from Berenika D. Schmitz, Casa executive director.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to be made in memory of Lisa to one of the following:
 
Casa Romantica
Make check payable to Casa Romantica and write “ in memory of Lisa Merryman” in the memo line
415 Avenida Granada
San Clemente, CA 92672
 
Or
 
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church
Organ Fund
Make check payable to the church and write “organ fund” in the memo line
31641 La Novia
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
 
Or
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Make a check payable to SMES and write “in memory of Lisa Merryman” in the memo line
31641 La Novia
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

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