Elizabeth “Lisa” Rexford Chapin, 68, of South Portland, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2026, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, ME, after a 3-year battle with cancer. Born in Washington, DC, Lisa was the beloved daughter of Nancy (N.) Daniels Oliver and Aldus Higgins Chapin. She grew up in McLean, VA, where she had her own horse and learned to ride at an early age, sharing one of her mother’s deep passions. A devoted Washingtonian at heart, Lisa especially enjoyed cheering on the Washington Redskins alongside her father, who also instilled in her an enthusiasm for international affairs, travel, and a lasting appreciation for the arts.

Lisa attended The Potomac School, Madeira School, and Tufts University, where she formed many enduring friendships. At Tufts, Lisa studied International Affairs, was a regular at Nichols House, and spent a summer studying in Talloires, France.

After graduation, inspired by a growing fascination with the Middle East and the wider world, Lisa embarked on a year-long journey around the globe. She visited her sister Nina in Kenya and traveled through Egypt, Jordan, India, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore, China, and Japan. Along the way, Lisa reconnected with family and old friends, and wherever she went, effortlessly made new ones.

When she returned to Washington, Lisa continued to pursue her passion for international relations, particularly through programs that fostered cultural exchange and global understanding. She spent many years with the Foreign Student Service Council, helping international students acclimate to life in Washington by connecting them with local families, resources, and community support.

Later, at the Fulbright Association, Lisa cultivated professional networks and developed programs that brought together Fulbright alumni from chapters across the country. Lastly, at the American Inns of Court, she put her exceptional people skills and gift for connection to work as a liaison between the Washington office and affiliated Inns along the East Coast.

Upon retirement, Lisa dreamed of returning to her beloved Maine, where she had spent the summers of her childhood with her grandmother in Camden and her father and siblings in Prouts Neck. She eventually settled in South Portland, where she found a neighborly community. She made new friends, often hosted old friends, and continued her commitment to service in retirement, volunteering with Travelers Aid, Mary’s Center, and the Maine Association for New Americans (MANA).

For Lisa, friends were family. Her circle of friends spanned every chapter of her life, and she nurtured those relationships over decades with warmth, generosity, and steadfast love. She will be deeply missed for her distinctive quirks, her unforgettable storytelling, and her love of good food, bright colors, and an easy, infectious laugh.

Lisa was predeceased by her stepsister, Elisabeth (“Lisi”) Oliver of New Orleans, LA, and is survived by her sister Nina deRochefort of Portland, ME, her brother Aldus (“Chip”) Newell Chapin of Prouts Neck, ME, her niece Leila and nephew Nicolas, as well as her step brothers Bim Oliver of Salt Lake City, UT, Peter Oliver of Warren, VT and Gus Oliver of New York, NY.

A Celebration of Life for Lisa will be held at the Hobbs Funeral Home in South Portland on Tuesday, May 26th at 10 am, followed by lunch at the Saltwater Grill in South Portland. Donations may be made in Lisa’s memory to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA or the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, ME.