Wendy Liisa Harrington, 59, passed away on September 7th, 2025, in Austin, Texas. Her life ended far too soon. Yet her impact will remain in the lessons she taught, the lives she touched, and the love she gave so freely.

Wendy was born in Freeport, Illinois on November 15, 1965, and she grew up in a large, blended family, with eight older brothers and sisters, located both near and far from her. A year and a half later, her younger sister, Christy Maria, was born. After several years in Freeport, the family moved to Rockford, Illinois, where Wendy graduated from Guilford High School.

From an early age, Wendy was shaped by remarkable role models. Her maternal grandmother immigrated to the United States from Finland at the age of 15, traversing the Atlantic Ocean alone, thus inspiring Wendy and future generations in their love of travel. As a Finnish descendant, Wendy was raised with the concept of determination, or “sissu,” and she demonstrated that grit throughout her life. Her older sister, Melissa, also inspired her, breaking barriers as a member of the first class to accept women at the U.S. Naval Academy. Above all, Wendy’s father, Jerry, was her steadfast supporter and greatest advocate, encouraging her curiosity, academic pursuits, and unwavering independence.

Wendy excelled academically, earning a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, followed by an M.B.A. from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Thus began her love of the Bay Area in California. Her career was nothing short of extraordinary. She thrived in consulting, held multiple C-suite leadership positions, and was instrumental in several start-ups. Her professional excellence was widely recognized: she was named one of The Bay Area’s Most Influential Women in Business in 2013 and received Fund Action’s Fund Marketer of the Year award in 2009.

In 2008 and 2010, Wendy’s life was beautifully transformed when she adopted her two children, Kai (17) and Katryna (16) from Russia. Her remarkable independence, tenacity, perseverance, dedication, love and compassion were demonstrated as she pursued the long and difficult road to an international adoption, flying multiple times to Russia to make her dream become a reality. Never were two children wanted and loved more. They were the true lights of her life, and she dedicated herself to motherhood with the same passion and commitment she gave to her career.

In addition to her beloved children, Wendy is mourned by her siblings, Christy Harrington, Park City, Utah, Hannah Fish, Rick Harrington, Tucson, AZ, Peggy Phelps, Richmond, VA., Melissa Harrington (Bill), Burke, VA, Constance Harrington (Bill), Olympia, WA, Mark Harrington (Karen), Syracuse, NY, and her dear friend, Tanya. She was preceded in death by her father, Jerome Harrington, her mother, Riita Anna Harjanne, and two older brothers, Gilbert Dudley Fish III and Scott Harrington. She is also survived by multiple nieces and nephews. She passed away surrounded by her loving family.

She was brilliantly and lovingly cared for by the remarkable medical staff at St. Davids Medical Center, Round Rock, TX. The dedication of these wonderful people was nothing short of remarkable. Her family owes a debt of gratitude to the doctors and nurses who gave everything they had to Wendy’s care.

Those who knew Wendy remember her for her belief in others. She often recognized potential in people before they saw it themselves. She had a gift for encouraging, guiding, and challenging others to reach higher than they thought possible. She was always there for her siblings, whether enjoying travel adventures or giving sage advice as we navigated life’s inevitable ups and downs.

A memorial service will be hosted on March 15, at Maverick’s House in Half Moon Bay, CA from noon until 3:30pm.

Wendy will be dearly missed by all and remembered as a trailblazer, a devoted mother, and a cherished sister, colleague, and friend.

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