Wendy Alison Horn
Born in China Lake, California, Wendy Alison Horn lived a life defined by passion, perseverance, and deep devotion and friendship to those she loved. She passed away February 20, 2025 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, strength, and unwavering commitment to family, fitness, and service.
Wendy spent her early years traveling the world with her family and attended high school at the American School in London. She went on to earn a degree from Hamilton College and later received her MBA from NYU, laying the foundation for a long and successful career in finance. She spent her entire career in institutional bond sales, most recently serving as the Managing Director of the Boston Fixed Income group of Raymond James. She was highly respected in her field, known for her expertise, tenacity, and dedication to both her colleagues and clients.
Beyond her professional achievements, Wendy was deeply passionate about giving back. For 24 years, she rode in the Pan-Mass Challenge, raising over $215,000 in support of cancer research. She spent her summers training with her fundraising team, Team Eradicate, always pushing herself to new limits. Each year, she challenged herself to lead their peloton from Sturbridge to Provincetown, a testament to her strength and determination. She was also a dedicated member of the Board of Directors for Agassiz Village, a summer camp in Maine that provides life-changing experiences for children from underserved communities across the Northeast.
Wendy embraced life with an adventurous spirit, combining her love of travel with her passion for fitness. Whether skiing in Colorado or the French Alps, cycling through the mountains of France and Spain, or seeking out new destinations, every trip was an opportunity to explore the world while challenging herself physically. Her enthusiasm for adventure was contagious, inspiring those around her to push their own boundaries and savor every experience. She never let an opportunity to make new friends pass her by and always went out of her way to make lasting connections.
She is survived by her loving husband, Mike Piispanen of Wellesley; her son, Matthew Piispanen of Boston; and her daughter, Nicole Maher of Boston. Wendy was the beloved daughter of Roberta Horn of Saco, ME, and a cherished sister to Jeffrey Horn of San Francisco, CA, Michael Horn of Jakarta, Indonesia and Rachel Sabatine of Pine Mountain Lake, CA. She is pre-deceased by her father, Bernard Horn of California.
She will be deeply missed by all who knew her, but her spirit will continue to inspire those she leaves behind.
Visiting hours will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St, (Rt.16) Wellesley on Sunday, February 23 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Funeral services private. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations can be made in her memory to the PMC or Agassiz Village, honoring her lifelong commitment to helping others.