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Cristina Menendez, died July 23, 1998, after collapsing from heat exhaustion while
collecting water samples in the Everglades. Cristina, twenty-five years-old,
earned her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from Florida International University
in 1997. She was vitally interested in the environment, particularly the Everglades,
and planned to devote her professional life to the protection and restoration of our fragile
resources. She was already proficient at the often dirty and difficult field work so
necessary for scientific research. But no matter how difficult, she loved the challenge.
She was employed as a student assistant by the Southeast Environmental Research Program
during her undergraduate years, and then following her graduation, moved eagerly into her
role as a field technician. Her task was to collect water samples in the water
conservation areas to be used to monitor pollution levels in the Everglades. She
welcomed the hardships she endured in the field as valuable experiences on
the road to her future which included graduate studies and a career
in the Biological Sciences.
As much as all of us in Southeast Environmental Research Program are diminished by
her death, we are also strengthened by the gift of having known her. And even in
the depths of our sadness, we can find comfort in remembering how her life touched
each of ours. Her quick laughter and keen sense of humor prevented us from taking
ourselves too seriously. Her excitement and enthusiasm about her work and studies reminded
us that joy can be found even in the routine and sometimes unpleasant tasks that fill
our days. Her kindness and encouragement were freely given, and
never failed to restore our sometimes flagging faith in ourselves and others.
Download Cristina's poster
We would like to thank Claudine Laab for her photographic dedication on this poster.
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U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Coastal Geology This page is: http://sofia.usgs.gov/sfrsf/memorials/cristina/index.html Comments and suggestions? Contact: Heather Henkel - Webmaster Last updated: 11 October, 2002 @ 09:42 PM (KP) |