Her final bow: Dr. Lisa Moon, optometrist and CATS Artistic Director dies at 72
By Jennifer Nobles, Staff Writer for The Union. Jun 21, 2024
Lisa Moon was more than just a well-known local optometrist. She was a mother, wife, friend, theatre enthusiast, and so much more.
Dr. Moon died unexpectedly on June 8, mere weeks after receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from nonprofit theatre arts organization SARTA (Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance). Moon was heavily involved in Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra (CATS) and was one of its founders alongside her friend Jeannie Wood who also received the honor from SARTA. She also served as artistic director.
Wood said Moon’s passion for theatre was practically contagious, a true lover of the stage and the many processes that surround putting on a successful show. Most recently, Moon took the stage for CATS’ production of “Snow Falling On Cedars” which closed May 18.
“Speaking to my relationship with (Moon), through CATS we became friends,” said Wood. “She was my partner in crime. We were a great team. We complemented each other – we learned how to do this thing called live theatre over the years and got better at it and I think we have become a solid organization.”
Dr. Moon and her husband, Dr. Jerry Chan, are the owners of Chan Family Optometry in Grass Valley. Not only did they work side-by-side, but celebrated a love that began 46 years ago. According to Chan Family Optometry’s website, Moon suffered a cerebral aneurysm rupture in 2016 that could have been fatal. Moon persevered, but stepped back from her role as doctor.
Moon’s daughter, Tiffany Chan, stepped in when her mother made her exit from the profession. It’s safe to say that the family is tight-knit, and through the years made many joyful memories together.
Tiffany said her mother possessed many wonderful qualities, and even after her life-threatening scare she remained positive and active. The pain of loss is fresh for Tiffany and her sister, Allison.
“Some of my favorite memories are of traveling together,” Tiffany said. “She loved traveling and it started out with graduation presents whenever Allison and I graduated from school—from college or grad school—and they would go on a trip with us. It was a really special time getting to travel with each other. We have some really amazing memories that were so meaningful. Our family really enjoys those experiences and getting to do those things together.”
Even though Moon got to see places like Egypt, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Japan, one thing she looked forward to the most each year was visiting the Nevada County Fair with her family. Eventually her love for the fair took hold and she began entering its baking contests, taking home ribbons of which her daughters say she was so proud. Her life after her aneurysm didn’t slow down for long; if anything, her daughters said, she had a new lease on life. The energetic mother they always knew was determined not to slow down.
“When she was healing, doctors have patients set goals,” said Allison Chan. “Her goal was to do Zumba, travel the world, and walk around the block. She accomplished all those things and more. She was able to do the 5K. My connection with my mom was very strong in theatre. We did that together. And it was amazing to see her as a grandma. She loved braiding my kids’ hair and buying the most fabulous dresses from thrift stores. She was also able to be the CATS director (with) her closest friends. She was able to get back to baking.”
Her friend Jeannie Wood concurred, amazed that Lisa was able to remain so active throughout her life.
“She was such a pillar; she represented so many aspects of the community,” said Wood. “She was a well revered optometrist and she had a lot of friends and exercised like hell. I think she loved Zumba the best. She recently picked up Pickle Ball, and mahjong. Her level of activity is like, wow!”
“I think one of the things that has been special is I get to hear about her legacy because I took over her practice,” Tiffany said. “I wanted to help out the family and then I took over the practice right before pandemic. Every day her patients would ask about her and they told me how much they loved her and she was an amazing doctor. She was so dynamic and so bright. She was saving people’s lives. One patient mentioned his wife felt like she couldn’t see very well and she went to see my mom (who said) ‘I think you’re having a stroke’ and she got treatment right away. So the patient’s husband said it gave him an additional 11 years with his childhood sweetheart. She caught brain tumors and she cared about the whole person. When (patients) said, ‘tell your mom I say hi’ I would let her know. I think it’s something very special.”
Allison said that she is certain her mother would rather be celebrated than mourned, though grief is its own process. The family, she added, has been reflecting on memories of Lisa—her achievements, her spirit, and her dedication to her family.
The ladies’ dad, Jerry Chan, was “a rock” for Lisa, their daughters said.
“My dad was my mom’s rock,” Allison said. “They did everything together. Even after work they would be together all the time. They were each others best friends. My mom always said that. The song ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ was extremely meaningful and it was everything that was important to my mom and dad and we realized that she was the wind beneath so many people’s wings. She helped them reach their highest moments in life.”
A celebration of life for Dr. Lisa Moon will be held Saturday, July 20 at 1:00 p.m. at the Nevada Theatre in Nevada City.