Lisa M. McIntosh

Lisa Michele McIntosh passed away at Littleton Hospital on Saturday, February 2, 2019, at the age of 46. Lisa’s beautiful light entered this world on May 16, 1972. She was the second born child to Richard and Diane Pera.

Lisa grew up in San Jose, California with her sister, Janet Worley. Janet treasured her from the moment she understood she would have a sibling. Friends often described them as double trouble.

Lisa spent her elementary years playing tetherball and hopscotch. Throughout middle school, sports played a significant role in her life. She dominated the basketball court as a point guard. She also succeeded in softball and volleyball. In high school, she danced on her high school dance team. She also quickly became known for her confetti birthday cakes. To this day, her friends remember her for her kind heart and her fiercely loyal friendship.

Lisa graduated Magna Cum Laude from San Jose State University with a degree in Elementary Education. She began her teaching career at Los Gatos Christian School where she taught with her sister. It soon became clear that she found her calling. She loved her students fiercely. She made learning an adventure. Once during Bay Area storm, the power went out at school. Located in the center of the building, Lisa’s classroom lacked natural light. So, she created an adventure. They gathered their belongings, got in line, and made their way to a windowed location with their lantern. They spent the rest of the day learning by the “campfire.” This is one of the thousands of examples of Lisa’s creative approach to learning. Lisa taught brilliantly for 24 years. The lives she touched received a rare gift indeed.

Lisa made childhood fun not only for her students and for Ashliana and Grant, but for her niece and nephew, Madison and Hunter. She never lacked for fun ideas. You could always count on Lisa to lead the charge and create all kinds of shenanigans. From booing and TPing to organizing Christmas bingo and setting up surprise cell phones, Lisa never missed an opportunity for fun.

Nothing in Lisa's life compared to the passion and love she had for Ashliana and Grant. They were her whole world. She beamed with pride as she watched them succeed not only in dance but in life. They filled her cup. Their triumphs and their success brought her unspeakable joy. She loved them with all of her heart.

If Lisa wasn't in the classroom, transporting Ashliana or Grant to and from dance, enjoying Grant perform for the Colorado Ballet or cheering on Ashliana and the Mountain Vista Poms team, you could find her on the streets of Highlands Ranch, running, for literally miles. She once ran 26 miles on her own. Just for fun.

Lisa is survived by her two beautiful children, Ashliana and Grant, her mother, Diane, her sister, Janet, her brother-in-law Paul, her niece and nephew Madison and Hunter, her cousins, Monica, Donald, Kevin, Jeannine, Julie, Stephanie, Joe, Jason, and Michelle, her aunts and uncles, Robert, Donna, Steve, Jeanette, and Mario. She is also survived by her Heritage Elementary family, the Vista Poms Tribe, a countless number of students, and a life-long friend Greg McIntosh.

Lisa is preceded in death by her father, Richard, her aunt Carolyn, and her grandparents, Harry, Alvetta, Mario and Elsie.