Lisa Weiss Obituary

Weiss, Lisa

Lisa Weiss, beloved wife, mother, and friend, passed away on August 22, 2025, at the age of 74.

Born May 12, 1951, in Chicago, Lisa was the only child of Stuart and Sebia Schmidt. She grew up on the North Side, close enough to stroll to Wrigley Field, and remained a lifelong Cubs fan. Her father, an advertising editor at the Chicago Sun-Times and a gifted artist, nurtured Lisa's own artistic eye. She graduated from Lakeview High School in 1965 and began college at Miami of Ohio before transferring to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where her talent flourished-along with a love for Chicago-style hot dogs and deep-dish pizza that never left her.

At SAIC, Lisa met the love of her life, Dan. After visiting the West Coast to meet his family, she fell in love with both them and the Bay Area. Following graduation, Lisa and Dan moved to Marin County and married in 1975, beginning a devoted partnership that spanned 50 years. Lisa worked first as a graphic artist at Ram Insta-Print and then co-founded a graphic arts firm with two other women, bringing her creativity and professionalism to clients throughout the region.

In time, Lisa's passion for food inspired a second chapter. She attended the California Culinary Academy, and a subsequent career in food styling brought her into close collaboration with chefs across the culinary world. Those friendships led to cookbook collaborations with many of them, and-marrying her design eye with a gift for clear, inviting writing-she earned a James Beard nomination for The Seventh Daughter with Cecilia Chiang. Her credits also include The Farallon Cookbook, The Boulevard Cookbook, Bruce Aidells' Complete Book of Pork, Pintxos, Chocolate and Vanilla, The Weiss Family Cookbook, along with numerous recipes and articles for publications such as Cook's Illustrated. Her work was marked by precision, generosity, and an instinct for making good food approachable and beautiful.

Family remained Lisa's deepest joy. With Dan, she created a loving Jewish home-warm, inclusive, and welcoming to all. They welcomed two children-Jordan (1978) and Jodie (1982)-and Lisa took particular pride in keeping the family Shabbat table always open, nourishing guests' hearts and stomachs with equal care. She made people feel seen, included, and well fed.

Lisa is survived by her husband, Dan, and their children, Jordan and Jodie, along with extended family and many dear friends whose lives she brightened.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California St., San Francisco, CA 94115.

May Lisa's memory be a blessing to all who knew her.

Sign Guest Book at legacy.suntimes.com