Elizabeth Derby MiddioneBorn: January 6, 1924 - Died: December 24, 2018Elizabeth Derby Middione died on Christmas Eve at Summit Hospital in Oakland after a long illness. She was 95 years of age. She was married to Carlo Middione, a well-known restaurateur in San Francisco for 55 years.
Lisa, a graduate of Julliard, was an accomplished pianist. She was a direct descendant of America's first millionaire, Elias Haskett Derby, who, in the 18th Century, was a shipping magnate, a currier, privateer for the United States and an importer of goods from the Far East. She was also the great granddaughter of Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan, and niece of the second Justice Harlan.
Lisa introduced the first stainless steel flatware in the US as a distributor for Georg Jensen in the 1950s. She later served ten years as director of the Stern Grove Festival. She was also the Western Publicist for Sol Hurok Performances, introducing such major talents as Arthur Rubinstein, Sviatislov Richter, Emil Gilels, and Arthur Fiedler.
Lisa was business and operations manager of the food emporium Vivande, Porta Via until her retirement in 2010.
A memorial service will be held later this year.