Lisa Elaine Berns
September 12, 1956 - March 19, 2011
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Lisa Elaine Berns
September 12, 1956 - March 19, 2011
Obituary
LISA ELAINE BERNS
September 12, 1956 – March 19, 2011
Beloved daughter of Norman and Marilyn Berns and sister of Leslie Berns Richman, Lisa Berns passed away on March 19th 2011. The cause of death was ovarian cancer.
Lisa was born and raised in Buffalo, New York and then made Southern California her home for over 37 years. She attended Orange Coast Community College and the University of California/Irvine.
Lisa’s interests ranged from acting and fashion to make up, meditation and cooking. She worked at Neiman-Marcus and Nordstrom in cosmetics and was involved with the Newport Theater Arts Center. Lisa practiced Siddha Yoga meditation and traveled to India. She created beautiful, artisan cakes and began a business, Sweet Camille, named for her niece. She also catered dinners and events, most notably for Georgia Frontiere, owner of the Los Angeles Rams.
In 1998, Lisa became very active as a Make Up Artist and joined Local 706 as an associate member after working at Fox Digital. She was incredibly dedicated to her artistry and loved to learn new techniques and skills that constantly expanded her knowledge and craftsmanship. Her love of the make-up craft and thirst for knowledge kept her actively growing with every year. She became a Trainee in 2001 and throughout her career she continued working at KTTV, Fox Digital and Fox News, and on television productions such as The Lot, Arliss, The Bernie Mac Show, American Dreams, The Best Damned Sports Show, Scrubs and did numerous commercials. Lisa was very pleased to have worked as a Make Up Artist on the movie ‘Dream Girls.’
Always eager to volunteer her time to various causes Lisa was dedicated to rescuing abused dogs, in addition to caring for her own beloved animals, and was very active with the West Adams Historical Association, the Motion Picture Television Fund, the Artists Coalition for Justice and the Shadowland Foundation.
Lisa leaves behind a wonderful and rich legacy. Her infectious laugh and impish sense of humor touched everyone on some level ? she was fun and adventurous. She corralled her friends and even an 80 year-old neighbor to join ?Full Moon Hikes? adventures in the Malibu Mountains led by a ranger with a flashlight. They protested all the way because it was a work night, only to find that at the top of the ridge the world was magically quiet and lit only by the moon and the stars.
Her mother, Marilyn Powell Berns, predeceases Lisa. In addition to her father and sister, a brother-in-law, Adam Richman, her niece and nephew, Camille Richman and Graham Richman, a large, closely-knit extended family and many dear friends, survives her. Her uncle, Colin Powell, is the former U.S. Secretary of State.
25 responses to Lisa Elaine Berns
Eileen McMahon says:
October 18, 2021
It’s 10 years after Lisa passed on and I just learned of her death today. I moved to Boston in the late 90’s and visited Lisa and her beautiful dogs in her house in South LA with my daughter I. 2009 and lost touch with her afterwards but she was always on my mind. She had a joyful soul and a generously spirit that I will never forget
Eileen McMahon says:
October 18, 2021
I lost touch with Lisa but I’ve missed her for a while and she’s been on my mind. The death of her Uncle today prompted me to search for her online and I was stunned to discover that she had passed on. Lisa and I met performing seva at the SYDA yoga meditation center in LA. Lisa was so much fun to be with. She brimmed with creativity and enthusiasm for her many passions – the guru, her pet dogs, her work as a make-up artist, baking, her niece Camille, her father and many others. In our last conversation she was happily settled in a beautiful California ranch in South Central LA where there was plenty of room for her dogs and orange and grapefruit trees growing in her backyard. I’ll never forget her beautiful smile, her joyous laughter, her compassion, and her acceptance of life as it was.
Kim Rowe says:
October 18, 2021
I worked with Lisa at Nordstrom at the Westside Pavilion ages ago. Lisa was this beautiful mischievous bohemian woman,she was complex and her life was meaningful,I thought of her today with the passing of her uncle Colin Powell,I could always see the family resemblance. It makes me sad to think she was taken so young,this world is not the same without her!
Shar Kanan says:
November 5, 2021
Kim Rowe says:
May 16, 2022
I worked with Lisa at Nordstrom at the Westside Pavilion ages ago. Lisa was this beautiful mischievous bohemian woman…she was complex and her life was meaningful…I thought of her today with the passing of her uncle Colin Powell…I could always see the family resemblance. It makes me sad to think she was taken so young…this world is not the same without her! 💗