Family Announces Memorial Fund for Columbia Astronaut Laurel Clark at Defenders of Wildlife
"I want to keep Laurel's memory alive," says her mother, Margory Brown, who cherishes the last e-mail her daughter sent from space. In it, Dr. Clark wrote of humanity's scars on the Earth, as well as "rivers breaking through tall mountain passes."
Mrs. Brown noted that she, her daughter, and even Dr. Clark ’s grandmother all shared a lifelong love of the natural world. She believes it is fitting to remember her daughter by honoring her passion for the environment.
"I've given a lot of thought to what I could do to fill the hole in my life," says Mrs. Brown. "What could I do to replace Laurel? She told us ‘the earth when viewed from space is both beautiful and boundaryless.’ Her love of the earth and its wild places kept bringing me back to the environment."
Contributions to the fund will benefit Defenders of Wildlife’s work, which includes protection for wildlife and endangered species, as well as environmental education.
"We’re honored that the family of Dr. Laurel Clark has set up a fund with Defenders to remember this American heroine whose life was cut short as she and the other Columbia astronauts pushed back the unknowns of space. This fund will allow us, in her name, to help save the wildlife and wild lands she loved for future generations," said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife.
Contributions may be made to Defenders of Wildlife, c/o Laurel Clark Memorial Fund, 1130 17th Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20036.
Dr. Clark received a bachelor of science degree in zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1983. Four years later she received her doctorate in medicine from the same school. In 1987 and 1988, she underwent post-graduate medical education at the Naval Hospital Bethesda, Maryland.
In 1996, Dr. Clark was selected by NASA for training and evaluation in the space program. Earlier this year, she flew on her first space shuttle mission, logging about 16 days in space before she and the rest of the Columbia crew perished during re-entry on February 1, 2003. She is survived by husband Jonathan Clark; eight-year-old son, Iain; her mother, Margory Brown; three brothers and sisters - Dan, Lynne and Jon Salton; and stepfather Dick Brown.
With more than 440,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading nonprofit conservation organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. For timely information on environmental issues, visit www.defenders.org and subscribe to DENLines, a free e-mail alert newsletter.
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Contact(s):
Brad DeVries, (202) 772-0237