Obituary of Liza K. von Claparede

von Claparede, Liza (nee, Louden) Saginaw Twp., Michigan Our beloved wife, mother, daughter and sister passed away on Friday, October 12, 2018. She was 61 years old. Liza Katherine Louden was born on June 8, 1957 to Harriet B. (nee, Whipkey) and the late James W. Louden in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Liza attended Georgetown University and Oxford University, England and received a BA cum laude in History and English from Trinity College, Washington, D.C. In 1995, she married Wolfgang von Claparede and, in 2000, they were blessed with a son, Christopher James. Liza is survived by her husband, Wolfgang and their son, Christopher; as well as her mother, Harriet B. Louden; her sister, Cheryl (Louden) Kubin; brother-in-law, John (Jay) and a nephew, "JJ". Liza is predeceased by her father, James W. Louden in 2006. Liza was very fond of political discourse and issues of the day and was politically active in her 25 year residence in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. While attending Georgetown University, she was one of the many citizens who stood in line to receive a seat at the Watergate hearings within the Rayburn House Office Building in August of 1974. Liza was also in attendance at the Lincoln Park rally across from The White House the night of Nixon's resignation as President of the United States. Her interest in Republican politics continued however, and she campaigned for and was an invited guest to Ronald Reagan's 1981 Inaugural at the U.S. Capitol and the Inaugural Ball that followed at The Capital Hilton. She was attracted to a career in the law and politics and took a job advising senior partners at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Patton, Boggs to assist in the media coverage of the 1979 Chrysler Corporation Loan Guarantee Act which eventually won Congressional passage in 1979. After deciding law was not her path, she went on to join the groundbreaking team of the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. as its Assistant General Manager. While in that capacity she had occasion to meet and assist many White House administrations as well as the U.S. Treasury's Secret Service and the U.S. State Department in the care of many dignitaries and diplomats. Notable among them were: Presidents Ronald Regan, George H.W. Bush and William Jefferson Clinton as well as such other notables, such as dancer, Fred Astaire, singer/songwriter and choreographer, Michael Jackson, King Hussein and Queen Noor of Jordan, actor, Alan Alda, actor-dancer, Gene Kelly, comedian, Richard Pryor, and prize fighter, Mohammed Ali, to name a few. Thereafter, Liza had crafted a very rewarding career in public relations, marketing and strategic planning for multiple corporate entities that eventually resulted in the founding of her own company, LvC Company, in 1996, (initially in Washington, D.C. metro and, in 1999, in Saginaw Township, Michigan where she relocated with her husband). Her philanthropic and civic/professional involvements were plentiful, and included serving on the Greater Washington Board of Trade, Chairwoman of the 1999 "Bookmark Benefactors Ball" for Literacy Council with former First Lady Barbara Bush as honorary co-chair; Member of the Small Business Committee of the Saginaw Chamber of Commerce, Saginaw Country Club, The Saginaw Club, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Council, Chair of the 2004 American Heart Association's Mid-Michigan Heart Gala, Chair of the Saginaw Art Museum's Opening of the Elizabeth H. Sargent Exhibition Wing; member of the Editorial Board of the Saginaw News; Board member of Handley School Foundation and Co-chair of its 2005 Fundraiser; Member of the Board of the Underground Railroad and Publicity Chair for the "Roo at the Zoo" for the Saginaw Children's Zoo as well as Publicity Chair of the 2012 Saginaw Bay Orchestra's Spring fundraiser. Liza was a world traveler, who, along with her German husband and their son, Christopher, retained another residence in Germany from which they visited many continents around the globe. Her love for new experiences and foreign people was insatiable. She was a great collector of individuals and managed to keep in touch with most all who crossed her lifetime path. Liza was always a great walker and loved to push her limits. She called it "her time with God." She was also an avid reader and diary writer who loved the scent and feel of personal stationary, the new book "smell" and the crispness of an old-fashioned Sunday morning newspaper. Liza's personal correspondence was always custom designed and she used it for every occasion and personal expression in her life. She believed that words written by the human hand were the highest and most powerful expressions of friendship, love and respect. An animal lover, she shared her homes with several beloved cats and one dog in her lifetime. Liza was a lover of laughter and a proponent of thinking "out-of-the-box" and she possessed an acerbic wit and droll sense of humor as well as a limitless enthusiasm which was appreciated by many. She adored and collected vintage Hermès scarves; Jewelerie Christ; Chanel bags and St. John Knit suits from cities that she has visited around the world. She used to joke with friends that "it was a long and expensive road from St. Cloud to St. John…but someone had to do it!" By the end of her life, she had amassed a very extensive collection and never hesitated to share the special stories resulting from the acquisition of each. SERVICE: In keeping with her wishes, cremation has occurred. A memorial service for Liza will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 19, 2018 at Deisler Funeral Home, 2233 Hemmeter Rd. (off State). Rev. Fr. Robert Byrne will officiate. VISITATION: Family and friends are welcome to visit at the funeral home on Thursday, October 18, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. MEMORIALS: Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a donation to The Barker Adoption Foundation. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at the funeral home or through www.DeilserFuneralHome.com