Alissa Ann Bigelow

Alissa Ann (Smego) Bigelow, age 38, of Boston, MA passed away unexpectedly on October 5, 2013. “Lil” or “Liss” to most of her friends and family was born in Livingston, NJ and raised in Darien, CT where she graduated from Darien High School. First attending Vanderbilt University and then the University of Southern California, Alissa earned her BA in Political Science, while also working as an actress appearing in several national commercials and prime time television shows. Although she loved Southern California, she was drawn back to the East coast and took up residence in her soon to be beloved Boston. She received her Master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University and briefly worked as an intern for a local news show in Fargo, ND as a beat reporter. Back to Boston, she became an editor and features producer at the New England Sports Network (NESN) nightly news show, Sports Desk. A self-taught cook with a love of food led Alissa to the Rustic Kitchen, a local Boston restaurant, where she helped launch a unique, live cooking show, “In the Kitchen” with Alissa Bigelow. Not finished with career changes, Alissa moved on to become an accomplished Yoga instructor at Karma Yoga Studio in the Boston area. Full of life, larger than life, Alissa touched everyone she met. Though petite, her radiant smile and bubbling personality always placed her at the center of attention. She loved everything she did, from skiing, to reading, to yoga, to riding her scooter with her daughter, Liv. Alissa leaves behind her precious daughter, Olivia Raymond Bigelow of Boston, MA; her parents, Dr. Douglas R. and Mary Ann (Shahade) Smego of Chicago, IL; her sister, Amy Ann Smego of Chicago, IL, brother, Raymond D. Smego and his wife, Dr. Allison (Rose) Smego of Cincinnati, OH; her former husband, Edward “Ned” Bigelow IV of Boston, MA; and special friend, Johnny McDonough of Wellesley, MA. She is also survived by many adoring aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. A memorial funeral mass will be held in the Cathedral of The Holy Cross, 1400 Washington St., Boston, MA on Friday, November 8, 2013 at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be sent to The Chestnut Hill School, 428 Hammond Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467; or the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, 90 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016 (http://bbrfoundation.org).