Isabella de la Houssaye

Isabella de la Houssaye
Born	(1964-02-02) 2 February 1964 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	2 December 2023(2023-12-02) (aged 59) Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Attorney, entrepreneur, endurance athlete
Known for	Lung cancer advocacy, endurance sports competitions

Isabella de la Houssaye (February 2, 1964 – December 2, 2023) was an attorney, entrepreneur, and endurance sports competitor recognized for her courageous six-year fight with lung cancer.

Early life and education

Originating from New Orleans, Louisiana, de la Houssaye attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart located in Grand Coteau. She pursued higher education at Princeton University, focusing on politics and composing her thesis on the governance of Tunisia under Habib Bourguiba Jr.. Subsequently, she obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School, where she made history as the first woman to serve as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Transnational Law, graduating in 1990.

Career

Her professional journey began in international finance law at White & Case, after which she shifted to a role in investment banking with Lehman Brothers. Later, she became co-owner of Material Culture, a retail and auction establishment based in Philadelphia. Beyond business, de la Houssaye was deeply involved in philanthropy, holding board positions at organizations such as Princeton in Asia, Students on Ice, Ride Hard Breath Easy, and Give Back Yoga, earning considerable respect for her dedication.

Cancer diagnosis and advocacy

In January 2018, despite a history of non-smoking and athleticism, de la Houssaye was diagnosed with Stage IV EGFR+ non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The disease had spread extensively to her lungs, pelvis, spine, sacrum, adrenal gland, and brain. Considering the five-year survival rate for Stage IV NSCLC is below 10%, her outlook was formidable. Throughout her treatment journey, she established Bike Breathe Believe, an advocacy group aimed at raising lung cancer awareness and supporting patients.

Endurance athletics

As an avid outdoor sports participant throughout her life, de la Houssaye competed internationally in events such as trail running, triathlons, long-distance swimming, and other endurance challenges. She completed several Ironman triathlons and ultra-distance stage races and summited four of the Seven Summits. Family expeditions included horseback riding across the Gobi Desert and trekking Spain’s Camino de Santiago. Remarkably, many accomplishments—including her 2019 ascent of Aconcagua, South America’s highest peak—occurred after her cancer diagnosis. In 2018, she took part in the Ironman World Championship held in Kona as an athlete representing the Ironman Foundation. Her athletic achievements encompass over 100 marathons (covering every US state and all seven continents), more than twenty Ironman Triathlons, and a cross-country bicycle ride from California to Florida.

Personal life

De la Houssaye resided mainly in the Lawrenceville area within Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, alongside her husband David W. Crane and their five children. She died on December 2, 2023.