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Lisa Pontecorvo at Edward Square. ‘She fought to keep green an area which has become overdeveloped’ |
Colourful family background of campaigner who put others first
Her father died in mountain fall aged 92, one uncle defected, another made classic film
TRIBUTES poured in this week to one of Islington most vocal and popular campaigners, Lisa Pontecorvo, who died on Monday in a road accident in Holloway. She was 64.
As friends, politicians and neighbours expressed their shock and sadness, details emerged of her extraordinary life.
A freelance BBC TV history researcher, Lisa, who lived in Thornhill Square, Barnsbury, was the daughter of an eminent Italian scientist, Professor Guido Pontecorvo, who was known as the “godfather of genetics”.
He died in 1999, aged 92, after falling from a mountain in Switzerland while researching flora.
Lisa’s two uncles were both highly controversial. Film director Gillo Pontecorvo is best known for the classic Battle of Algiers. He died in 2006.
Her other uncle, renowned physicist Bruno, defected to the former Soviet Union in 1950. He died in 1993.
Her Swiss art historian mother Leonore, who lived in Hampstead, died in 1986.
Oxford educated Lisa, a single woman with no children, rarely spoke about her fascinating background. Instead, she concentrated, virtually full-time, on voluntary work for her community around Caledonian Road, where she was a familiar figure on her bicycle.
She was best known for her part in turning derelict wasteland into the award-winning Edward Square park off Copenhagen Street – with support from Poet Laureate Andrew Motion, an Islington resident.
Lisa was born into a non-observant Jewish family who fled Italy after Mussolini took control.
Relatives from Italy and Switzerland are due to attend a private cremation, expected to be at Islington and St Pancras Crematorium in East Finchley.
A memorial event is being planned for Edward Square by her friends, Labour councillors Rupert Perry and Paul Convery and Father Jim Kennedy.
A kite-making event due to be staged tomorrow (Saturday) at Edward Square with children from nearby Copenhagen School has been cancelled.
School headteacher Lindsey Jackson said: “Children and staff are really sad and upset. Lisa was a big friend of the school and everyone loved her. Every community needs a Lisa and we’ve lost ours.”
Cllr Convery described Lisa as an “indefatigable” fighter responsible for bringing classical music to local children with her support for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
She also was a big critic of the King’s Cross rail development and was appalled when Network Rail dropped plans for a footbridge across the station as part of its redevelopment.
Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Bridget Fox said Lisa was a good friend but her often sweet nature belied an “iron commitment” to improve the environment.
Andrew Bosi, from Islington Society, said of the friend he had known for 20 years: “She fought to keep green an area which has become overdeveloped. We can ill afford to lose people like Lisa because there are so few.”
Next-door neighbour Julia Rae said Lisa was involved in a number of youth charities. “She wanted to maintain the heritage of the buildings in the area,” she added. “That’s one of the reasons she moved here. She was a wonderful neighbour.”
Neighbours Robin and Attracta Roden, who described Lisa as someone who cared more about others than herself, said: “She was really popular. There were hundreds at her 60th birthday at her home four years ago.” |
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