Lisa Marino, 40, Rothman doctor

Even in kindergarten, Lisa Marino knew how to deal with her cystic fibrosis, said Danielle Westfall, her friend for 35 years.

"From the time she was 5, 6 years old, she knew when to take her medicine," Westfall said, and together in school, "we would walk down to the nurse."

Walking down the corridor, she seemed like anyone else.

But through the years, Westfall said, "she knew when she was getting rundown. She would say, 'It's time for me to go see my doctors.' "

The condition, Westfall said, "never defined her. It was something she dealt with every day, like brushing her teeth."

On Monday, April 13, Dr. Marino, 40, of Southampton, Burlington County, a physician at the Rothman Institute since 2009, died of complications from cystic fibrosis at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Though born with cystic fibrosis, Dr. Marino "had never been in serious condition until her hospitalization in January," her husband, Sean Sanford, said.

"They found she had an infection which had seriously damaged her lungs" as a result of the cystic fibrosis, he said.

"She worked very hard to take care of herself, from a very young age," Sanford said. "It was something that she had to manage every day."

From 30 to 45 minutes every morning and evening, she had to undergo rigorous physical therapy at home. "She was diligent," he said, "and had very good doctors."

Born in Bethpage, N.Y., Dr. Marino earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry at St. Joseph's University in 1997.

She was a chemist at Rohm & Haas Co. from 1997 to 1999 before earning a doctorate at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathy in 2003.

She was an intern at what is now the Frankford campus of Aria Health in 2003-04, and a resident and then chief resident in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania before working on a fellowship there in spinal intervention and spine pain management in 2007-08.

In July 2014, the couple bought a 16-acre spread, Two Hawks Farm, in Southampton.

"We have started to grow organic vegetables" on five of the acres, her husband said, and they were beginning to manage two hives of honeybees.

Besides her husband, Dr. Marino is survived by her parents, Ellen and Albert Marino, and a sister, Lori.

A wake was set from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 17, at the Church of St. Charles Borromeo, 47 Skillman Rd., Skillman, N.J., with a Funeral Mass there at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 18.

Donations may be sent to www.twohawksfoundation.com.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hillsboroughfuneralhome.com.