Lisa Rochel Ginsberg-Evans, a wholeheartedly remarkable woman, cherished life’s simple pleasures: a warm chocolate chip cookie (baked by her, no less), a freshly groomed ski run, and an intermittent quiet reprieve from her husband and two boys that she lovingly named the “Evans Tornado.” First diagnosed in 1998, her bravery, dignity, and grace in the face of this disease was truly awe-inspiring. She batted 1.000 for an unheard of twenty-five years, but unfortunately, in the end, the house always wins. She passed away in the early hours of June 3, 2023, peacefully and at home surrounded by her husband of forty-three years (though at times she quipped that it felt twice as long), and her two sons, whom she often told—ever the diplomat—she loved “equally, but differently.” Despite both being lawyers, they could never find fault in that position.
She was born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, to Paul and Shirley (Traines) on July 20, 1957, but grew up in Bay City, Michigan. Her mother (despite being a Spartan) and Uncle, Gordon Ginsberg (a Wolverine, thank God), were steadfast figures and role models in her upbringing. She, like much of her family, attended the University of Michigan, where she received a B.S. in Pharmacy and met the love of her life, Steve (of “Dammit Steve” fame). Steve taught Lisa how to ski, Lisa taught Steve how to sit still, and they both taught each other how to love unconditionally.
A life-long Administrator at the University of Michigan Hospital, she oversaw the compounding of drugs at work, and the compounding effects of the self-propelled Evans Tornado at home. Generous to perhaps a fault (her only fault), especially with her sons, her office mates would often lament that they wanted to be Lisa’s kids. Sitting here writing this and reflecting on having such an incredible mother, I can say without a doubt that Ben and I truly won the lottery in that respect. She always put her family first, and always did so with her blinding smile and what seemed like limitless patience; traits she maintained until the end.
Preceded in death by her father, Paul, Uncle Gordon and his partner Leonard (Mazerov), and stepfather, Ralph (Isackson), Lisa is survived by her husband Steve, her sons and their spouses Ben and Gretchen (Kingham), Eric and Eileen (Forsythe), mother Shirley, brother Tom and his wife Lizann (Varadi), younger sister turned best friend Amy, her nephews Alex, Jason, and Jeremy, and of course, her “adopted” daughters Andrea Plevek and Lindsey Kelley.
To those who never had the chance to know her, we are sorry for your loss.