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Dr. Clare Intress, Executive Director of the North Museum of Natural History and Science here and a former National Science Foundation Program Director, died Friday, February 13, 2004 in Willow Valley's skilled care unit following a six-year battle with breast cancer. She was 51. Intress, a native of Amarillo, Texas, and later of Albuquerque, N.M. is credited with showcasing new exhibits, securing new grant funding, bolstering fundraising and building a stronger community presence for the North Musuem as its director since 2001. She played a key role in the Lewis & Clark exhibition's tour last year in Lancaster, which the museum honored with special natural history and science displays, and created inventive promotional and fundraising initaitives to expand the museum's offerings and outreach programs to Souther Pennsylvania schools. From 1998 to 2001, Intress was a National Science Foundation Program Director of elementary, secondary and informal education in Washington, D.C. She was charged with reviewing numerous science education and teacher-training proposals from around the country, recommending the most promosing programs for funding and overseeing their progress. Intress also represented the NSF at various international gatherings including the 1998 and 1999 National Marinie Educators' annual conferences, where she presented her work "In Search of El Nino - Voyage Aboard Ka'Iminoana" and in 1998, her joint research on "Sharks: Cretaceous to Contemporary." Her publication on El Nino was the result of her 1997 selection as Teacher-at-Sea by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It was on that research mission to the Pacific Equator that Intress quietly began taking oral chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer. She did so several years before another woman scientist, (Jerri Nielsen) on a South Pole expedition, made headlines for administering cancer treatment to herself after a heroic helicopter drop of the drugs to the remote Antarctic site. Prior to her NSF appointment, Intress was Master Teacher of the "Living in Water" curriculum at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD; a grant reviewer for the Institute of Museum and Library Services; an education specialist and study participant in Mexico with the immersion project of the Center for Global Education at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn; and an evaluator for the NSF-funded "Molecular Biology for Youth" project at Iowa State University. From 1974 to 1991, Intress held a number of positions with science and medical organizations in Albuquerque, N.M. including Director of Teacher Educational Prorgrams at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History; assistant professor of natural sciences at the University of New Mexico's University College, where she was awarded the Outstanding Teaching Award; and as a research tecnologist at the Veterans Administration Hospial and at UNM's School of Medicine. During her career, Intress was a consultant to numerous science and education organizations, including the American Associatiion of Museums; the U.S. Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories; and the Bureau of Education Planning and Development at UNM. She was also the founder of PARADIGM Science Education Consultants. Intress was a graduate of UNM, with a Ph.D. in science education (1992) and an M.A. in curriculum and instruction in multicultural secondary education (1988). She also holds a B.S. in biochemistry from Iowa State University (1974), where she played string bass in the university's symphony. She began serious science research work while a student at Albuquerque's Highland High School, where she won state and national science fairs for her work on the pharmacological qualities of native New Mexican plants. Among her early honors was recognition form the U.S. Navy and a week-long tour of its California science facilities. Intress later was recognized for her work by Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Socity; the Society of Technical Writers, from which she received the Publishers Award; Iota Sigma Pi, the Women's Chemistry Honor Society; and Who's Who Among Students in Amercian Universities and Colleges. She was a member of numerous community and professional groups including: Rotary International; St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Albuquerque and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lancaster; the Association of Science Musuem Directors; the National Marine Educators Association; and the Association of Science and Technology Centers. Intress is survived by her husband, Ed Wiest of Lancaster and formerly of Albuquerque; her son, Rob Hicks of Danville, VA; her parents, Dr. Robert H. and Jean Conrad Intress of Waynesboro, VA and formerly of Albuquerque; a brother, Dr. Robert C. Intress of Indianapolis, IN, and a sister, Ruth S. Intress of Lexington, VA. The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home on Friday, February 20, 2004 from 2:30 p.m. until time of service. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, February 20, 2004 at 4:30 pm at Groff Funeral Home in Lancaster with Rev. Wayne D. Moritz officiating. . Please omit flowers, if desired memorials may be made to the North Musuem of Natural History and Science, 400 College Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603-3393. Fred F. Groff, Inc. is a "Life Celebration" Funeral Home.
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