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Obituary – Marisa Masters (1925 – 2016)

Obituary – Marisa Masters (1925 – 2016)

Remembering one of London’s great ladies, Marisa Masters

 

Though born in Italy, Marisa Masters undoubtedly adopted London as her home and wherever she went this pint-sized, sociable sort brought colour to any occasion.

 

Marisa with her beloved dog Gigi in June 2007

 

Twice married and a mother of three, Marisa lived by her favourite saying – “Life is beautiful” – and was famed for wearing yellow kaftans and bright amber. She owned the first and quite possibly the worst parked Smart car in Britain, bought a Mustang from Princess Margaret and won a Porsche in a raffle at Harrods. Asked by Mohamed Al-Fayed to come forward to claim it, Marisa asked: “What is a Porsche?” to the great amusement of those present. She chose not to keep the vehicle and returned the keys within days.

 

In the mid-2000s, Marisa hosted a lunch for Eugenio Sbarbaro, the then Apostolic Nuncio to Serbia, in her palatial home at 11-12 Walton Place in Knightsbridge. Earlier that morning, she had had a difference opinion with a maid who worked for her and had sent her away. During the lunch, where guests also included such people as Father Michael Seed, this individual returned to collect her possessions in the company of the police. Marisa, whose encounters with officers of the law generally related to incidents with her beloved Smart, informed her “friends” that they were not a taxi service and handed each of them a bunch of flowers. Always one to use humour to best effect, everyone – the maid included – left with smiles on their faces.

 

Born into a large family in Barri, Italy in 1925 and the daughter of an opera impresario, Marisa was never afraid to share her views on any subject. Often to be found in the Bluebird on the Kings Road, this nonagenarian loved art, cigarettes, Sambuca and sunflowers. She had, however, little time for the royal family and politicians and once even entered a bullring during a bullfight in Spain. The bull, Marisa recounted, “behaved himself impeccably”.

 

Marisa loved cigarettes and conversation

 

Marisa Olga Masters – née Marisa Lassandro – was born on 25th November 1925 and passed away aged ninety on the Queen’s ninetieth birthday, 21st April 2016. She is survived by her daughters and grandchildren. Marisa will be fondly remembered and missed by many and now, we can report, another sunflower is blossoming in the sky.

 

A selection of pictures of Marisa with friends follows:

 

Marisa with Alexandra Naylor, Matthew Steeples and Rodion Yefymov at Bluebird in 2013
Marisa with Anne Penberthy at Matthew Steeples’ 25th birthday party at Blakes in January 2006
Marisa with the late Umberto Scomparin at Ilia restaurant in October 2011
Marisa with Sinem Suphi at Bluebird in July 2015
Marisa with Marjorie Munson in July 2007
Marisa at lunch at Riccardo’s restaurant in February 2012 with Rodion Yefymov Simon Jacques and Matthew Steeples
Marisa with J.Harry Edmiston, Riadh Abdelouahad, Prince Peter Osei-Tutu, Matthew Steeples and Charles Mitford Cust at dinner at Tartine in March 2008

 

 

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