Born Elizabeth Pauline Colmers on February 27, 1916 in Vienna, Austria, Lisl entered the United States as a refugee from Pre World war II Germany as a young woman. She received her RN from Columbia Presbyterian School of  Nursing in 1940, her MA in sociology from the New School for Social Research in 1953 and an MA in Public Health Nursing Administration from NYU in 1956.  She began her career as a nurse at Columbia Presbyterian in 1940, worked as a staff nurse and senior Advisor at the Henry Street Visiting Nurse Service for 2 years. She served in the US Army Nurse Corps for two years in France.  While in France she was in charge of the neuro-psychiatric unit in general hospital and then in charge of VD control in Paris.  From 1946 until her retirement in 1971 she served as an International Civil Servant with the UN in various world public health initiatives. Among her assignments was Public Health Specialist where she began her lifelong commitment social action.

 

After her retirement, she and her husband Anthony Standen moved full time to their beloved home in South Kent, and Lisl  started her life of community service and activism. She began in 1972 by organizing the League of Women Voters in Kent and served LWV in various local and state capacities for 13 years. Lisl was a founding member of many local organizations including WES, Connecticut Housing Coalition, Kent Village Housing for the Elderly, Inc., Kent Affordable Housing, CASSH and the UNA NWCT Chapter. She served on the boards of CT Association for Human Services, Elderly Housing Management, Management Ministry Associates, and Northwestern Area Agency on Aging, Western CTY Area Agency on Aging, Kent Housing Partnership Kent Nursing Association, Housatonic Center for Mental Health, and The Older Women’s League (OWL).

 

During her lifetime, Lisl was received recognition from several organizations for her contributions. Among these are the Annual Award for Outstanding Contribution to Planning by the CT  Chapter of the American Planning Association in 1984;  The Annual distinguished service Award from the Commissioner of Housing in 1988; recognition of her years of work in support of affordable housing and a lifetime of commitment to affordable housing from the CT Housing coalition in 1990.In 1991 the AT Association for Human Services gave her the Director’s Award for Commitment and Vision in guiding the development of the Association;  LEAP awarded her the Carl Hurlwit Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996; CCI awarded her for work with affordable housing and appropriate health care in 1998; The Connecticut Housing Coalition named her “ Housing Heroine” for tireless commitment to affordable housing and social justice in 1999.  In 2003 she received one of The Outstanding Women of CT Awards. Most recently, she was honored by the UNA NWCT Chapter with a scholarship in her name when she stepped down as founding President of the group.

 

Lisl is predeceased by her beloved husband Anthony. She is survived by her sister Nora Zinner of Wellsville, NY; Daughter in law Jane Standen of Yorkshire, UK;  step son Julian Standen of  San Francisco, California;  step grandchildren Julian Standen, of London, UK; Amy Standen and Sophie Standen of San Francisco, California and Melissa Standen of  Oakland, California; step great grandchildren, Felix Standen  and Elio Standen.  She is also survived by her constant and loving canine companion Kubwa by whom she is sorely missed.


Contributions in Ms. Standen’s memory can be made to Kent Affordable Housing, PO Box 265, Kent, CT 06757

or

The Lisl Standen Scholarship Fund … c/o Joan Talbot, 50 Bell Hill Rd. Washington, CT 05793-1501

A memorial service in Lisl’s memory will be held on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2006 at 1:30pm at The First Congregational Church of Kent located on 97 North Main St. Kent, CT.