Diana Lischer, a poet, writer, farmer, and longtime resident of Southeastern Vermont, died after a prolonged illness on September 3, 2026 at the age of 73 in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Diana was born in Philadelphia, PA on February 20, 1953 to William C. Lischer and Patricia Urffer. She grew up on her family’s flower farm in Newtown, PA, enjoying many splendid summers spent on the beaches of the Jersey Shore with her family and cousins. Her family moved to Southern California and she spent her teen years exploring West Coast beaches and was energized by the incredible social changes happening in the early 1970s. After spending time at UC Santa Barbara she hit the road. She explored the cold frontiers of Canada, had many adventures, learned to fish and squid jig on the waters of the Northern Atlantic, before moving permanently to Vermont in 1976.

Diana was a farmer, published poet and writer, painter, knitter, and avid gardener. Her poetry appeared in Vermont Life, The Larcom Review, and three times in the Anthology of New England Writers. Her reviews and essays appeared on Vermont Public Radio, The Brattleboro Reformer, The Commons, Art New England, and in artist Emily Mason’s book, The Fifth Element. Her poem, “If Margaret Sanger Sang a Song” was set to music by composer Lawrence Siegel and performed by the a cappella group, femme m’amie. In 2025, her book of poetry, In Winter I Burn Poems was published by Green Writers Press.

Diana was a force of nature and brought love and passion to everything she did. She was deeply involved in her community in southeastern VT during her fifty years of living in the area. Diana sold homemade quiche and cheesecake at the Brattleboro Farmers’ Market in the early 80s, served as a paralegal, had a sheep farm in Dummerston, worked for many years at Scott Farm, served as Development Director of the Putney School, Executive Director of Community Action Brattleboro Area (CABA), and was an accomplished grant writer - securing funding for the Student Conservation Association, Green Mountain Camp, Green Mountain Conservancy, and Connecticut River Conservancy, among other local nonprofits. Diana served on the Energy Committee in Dummerston, the Board of the River Gallery School, and Board of Land for Good.

Diana is survived by her son, Zack and his wife Jacqueline Arias, and sister, Nancy Footit (husband, Chuck and daughter, Danielle), Vermont cousins Kathy Urffer and Frederic Noyes, and their children Connor and Kali, and west coast cousins, David and Donna, and James and Michele. She is predeceased by her brother, William Lischer, Jr., and her parents, William and Patricia Lischer.

A funeral service is scheduled for 11am on Tuesday, September 8 at Meeting House Hill Cemetery (580 Orchard Street, Brattleboro, VT). Diane Morris will officiate. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Green Mountain Camp (https://www.greenmountaincamp.org/donate) or Center for Solace (https://www.centerforsolace.org/donate). There will be a celebration of life planned for this Fall.