Amherst, Claire Kurtz died February 27 from bile duct cancer, after a nearly 4 year journey.  She was surrounded by close friends, a loving family and wonderful health care providers. 

Claire was born in Washington, DC and graduated from University of Wisconsin, Madison (BA-Anthropology) and U-Mass, Amherst (M.Ed). She met Steve, her gentle soulmate and the love of her life, in Brazil and they married in 1968. He filled her life with music and natural beauty and was her constant companion and caregiver through her illness. They made their home in Pelham, MA and co-founded and worked at the Holyoke Street School, an alternative school for high school dropouts. 

Claire dedicated her professional life to working with families in the Early Intervention field. This included 21 years with the Reach Early Intervention Program as a developmental educator and team leader, and 13 years for Hampshire Educational Collaborative as an early childhood consultant. 

Claire and Steve had their radiant, intrepid daughter Corey in 1979, followed by feisty and jubilant Michael in 1981. She will be deeply missed by Steve and the children, including son-in-law, Uri, and beautiful and sweet grandson Daniel, and by her sister and brother-in-law, Paula and William Lecky, her brother and sister-in-law, Alan Kurtz and April Stein, and their families, and by long-time friends and former colleagues. 

Claire was extremely grateful for the support of her circle without whom she couldn’t have possibly sustained hope and health for so long. 

The family welcomes visitors to a celebration of Claire’s life on Sunday, April 3 at 11:00am at the Jewish Community of Amherst, 742 Main St., Amherst, MA 01002. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Abortion Rights Fund of Western Mass, PO Box 2162, Amherst MA 01004-2162 or Cancer Connection, 41 Locust St., Northampton MA 01060. Memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com