Elizabeth Ann Nash, Ph.D.
1970 - 2003

"We Love You - Carpe Diem!"

lizabeth Ann Nash, Ph.D., age 32, died Feb 22, 2003 at Stanford University Medical Hospital of complications from a lifelong battle with Cystic Fibrosis.

Elizabeth was born March 5, 1970 in Troy, New York. She is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James L. Nash of Dennis, Massachusetts; her brother and sister-in-law, Carolyn and Patrick Nash of San Jose, California; and her sister, Christine Nash of San Francisco, California.

Elizabeth graduated, cum laude, from the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York in 1992 and earned her doctoral degree in molecular genetics from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City in 1998. She did research in the field of Cystic Fibrosis at both Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore and the University of California, San Francisco. At the time of her death she was employed as a quality assurance scientist at Ingenuity Systems of Mountain View, California. In her last act of research on behalf of CF, Elizabeth donated her lungs to the Cystic Fibrosis Research Center at Stanford University Hospital.

She was Chair of the Research Advisory Committee of Cystic Fibrosis Research Inc. of Mountain View, California. She also served as a mentor for teens with CF. Liz held three patents in the use of robotics in genetic research. She was a member of the human genome research project team. She authored and coauthored many scientific studies for publication in medical journals and presentation at scientific meetings. Her family has established the Elizabeth Nash Foundation to continue her fight against Cystic Fibrosis.

Elizabeth lived life fully. She enjoyed her family, vacations on Cape Cod, lobster, skiing, bicycle road racing, the symphony, and the paintings of Monet. She was very proud to carry the Olympic Torch (in San Francisco) for the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

From an early age Liz had a love for space and wanted to be an astronaut. Of course her medical condition precluded that possibility. However, she never lost her interest in the space program. It is fitting and with a sense of closure that she “fly this mission.”

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