We mourn the passing of our former colleague, Claire Birney, who served as Stroud Water Research Center’s director of development from 1995 to 2007. She passed away after a brief but hard-fought battle with cancer in mid-May while surrounded by her beloved family.
Always the consummate professional in her work, she had an exceptional ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Claire’s sense of humor, contagious laugh, and magnificent smile lit up every room she entered, and were only a few of the many gifts she brought to the Stroud Center.
Her magical singing voice is remembered by all, as were her dancing, singing, and acting in the skits at our annual holiday parties.
Claire worked hard but found time to travel the world, play in a band, and volunteer for many community causes. She found peace walking her dogs in the Chester County countryside. Most importantly, Claire cherished her family. They were the love of her life.
She will be greatly missed by those who worked with her, and our thoughts go out to her family during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for gifts to be made in her memory to Stroud Water Research Center, the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls, or Easterseals of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. A remembrance of her life will be held at London Grove Monthly Meeting at a later date.
