Elissa Josephsohn, a longtime Honolulu publicist whose love of the theater became the passion of her life, lost her battle with cancer Thursday evening.

She died in her Sierra Drive home while listening to her favorite Broadway musical, "Les Miserables," a show she had seen more than 30 times. Josephsohn was 60.

"Lisa was larger than life," said Broadway actor Richard Vida, who flew from New York on Tuesday to be with Josephsohn, his best friend. "She was probably the best publicist I've ever worked with. It wasn't just business to her. She loved you and she cared."

Since the 1970s, Josephsohn represented local community theater companies and restaurants. She was publicist for Army Community Theatre and Ballet Hawai'i at the time of her death.

Josephsohn was often sought by Broadway producers to help when they brought their shows to the Islands. She provided publicity for Broadway shows that came to Hawai'i for the first time, including "Cats," "Les Miserables," "The Phantom of the Opera," "Miss Saigon" and "Mamma Mia!"- the last major show she worked on. It sold out the Blaisdell Concert Hall for three weeks this summer.

Josephsohn was diagnosed about two years ago with primary peritoneal cancer and had been treated at Kapi'olani Women's Cancer Center and Cedars Sinai Women's Cancer Center in Los Angeles.

Josephsohn died about 6 p.m. on the last note of the song "Bring Him Home."

"She died in my arms," Vida said. "As tragic as it sounds, it was a beautiful experience that we (including friend Charlotte Kandel) could be together to share Lisa's transition. The three of us were completely entwined."

Josephsohn was born in the Bronx on July 7, 1949, and grew up in North Carolina. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees in history at the University of North Carolina, where she helped pay for her education with a typing job.

Her passion for theater, music and dance became a career. Josephsohn's first job out of college was with the North Carolina Symphony. It led her to Hawai'i in the 1970s, when she became publicity director for the Honolulu Symphony. After working briefly for a public relations firm, Josephsohn became an independent publicist.

Josephsohn often volunteered to help community organizations, Kandel said. Josephsohn was also active with children, despite not having any of her own, Kandel said. She took them to plays and musical productions, ballet performances and art museums. At one point, she even led a Brownie troop.

"She has been an auntie to two generations of children," Kandel said. "She fostered so many children's love of the arts."

Wayne Harada, retired entertainment reporter for The Honolulu Advertiser, was a close friend.

"Lisa lived and breathed arts and culture, devoting her life to supporting theater, ballet, museum and other art forms," he said. "Honolulu owes her a debt of gratitude in connecting the dots to woo producers and presenters to bring biggies to the Islands from the Mainland and Canada."

Josephsohn is survived by her sister, Debbie Koerner of Winston-Salem, N.C.

There will be a private service tomorrow at Temple Emanu-El. A public celebration of her life will be held at a later date at the Hawai'i Theatre.

The Women's Cancer Center at Kapi'olani has set up a permanent fund, the Elissa Josephsohn Spirit Fund, to continue Josephsohn's work in combating ovarian cancer, and to provide quality-of-life services to its patients.

In lieu of flowers and gifts donations may be made to: Kapi'olani Health Foundation, 55 Merchant St., 26th Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813. Make checks out to Kapi'olani Health Foundation, with "Elissa Josephsohn Spirit Fund" on the memo line.