Who was Elizabeth Nash?
by Christine Nash, Elizabeth's sister
My sister Liz was many things to me: best friend, mentor, #1 cheerleader, inspiration, and constant
reminder of what's really important in life. Given her impact on me, I often think about how I will share
who she was with the new people in my life who never got a chance to meet her. It's a challenging
task.
Liz was an optimistic woman who defined herself by what she could do, not what limited her. In all of
her pursuits, she appreciated depth... of knowledge and of experience.
Liz earned a PhD in genetics although she knew her health would likely prevent her from pursuing a
long term career in laboratory bench science.
She became a fan of Lance Armstrong following his bout with cancer and his first Tour De France win
in 1999. By 2001 she was actively handicapping the race sending family members emails regarding
her predictions for the top 10 finishers.
Rather than give up a passion, she got portable oxygen tanks she could carry in her backpack while
she skied the mountains of Utah.
Liz once missed a flight because she didn't hear the boarding announcement. She was totally
engulfed in reading a magazine about the Utah Jazz.
When she became interested in chess again a few years ago, playing online or with roommates wasn't
good enough. She decided to go down to the local Russian cultural center to play with some of the
best chessmasters in San Francisco.
In the early '90s, Liz began keeping a quote book, some of which you'll see on the Foundation's
homepage. Thumbing through this book is like reading a Cliff Notes version on what Lizzy valued:
humility, perseverance, discipline, accountability, and a strong sense of purpose. Liz believed we all
had a responsibility to do what we could to make the world a better place. Despite a rigorous health
maintenance routine, she made time to serve as the research advisory chair for Cystic Fibrosis
Research Inc. (CFRI), to mentor a local adolescent with CF, and to always recycle, even if it meant
stockpiling items for weeks until she was healthy enough to make the trip downstairs to the recycling
bins in her apartment building. She did what she could, and expected others would do the same.
Who was Elizabeth Nash? Liz was a scientist, an artist, a musician, a skier, a basketball fan, and a
volunteer who happened to have Cystic Fibrosis. That was how she thought about it, and that was
what made her such an inspiration.
by Christine Nash, Elizabeth's sister
My sister Liz was many things to me: best friend, mentor, #1 cheerleader, inspiration, and constant
reminder of what's really important in life. Given her impact on me, I often think about how I will share
who she was with the new people in my life who never got a chance to meet her. It's a challenging
task.
Liz was an optimistic woman who defined herself by what she could do, not what limited her. In all of
her pursuits, she appreciated depth... of knowledge and of experience.
Liz earned a PhD in genetics although she knew her health would likely prevent her from pursuing a
long term career in laboratory bench science.
She became a fan of Lance Armstrong following his bout with cancer and his first Tour De France win
in 1999. By 2001 she was actively handicapping the race sending family members emails regarding
her predictions for the top 10 finishers.
Rather than give up a passion, she got portable oxygen tanks she could carry in her backpack while
she skied the mountains of Utah.
Liz once missed a flight because she didn't hear the boarding announcement. She was totally
engulfed in reading a magazine about the Utah Jazz.
When she became interested in chess again a few years ago, playing online or with roommates wasn't
good enough. She decided to go down to the local Russian cultural center to play with some of the
best chessmasters in San Francisco.
In the early '90s, Liz began keeping a quote book, some of which you'll see on the Foundation's
homepage. Thumbing through this book is like reading a Cliff Notes version on what Lizzy valued:
humility, perseverance, discipline, accountability, and a strong sense of purpose. Liz believed we all
had a responsibility to do what we could to make the world a better place. Despite a rigorous health
maintenance routine, she made time to serve as the research advisory chair for Cystic Fibrosis
Research Inc. (CFRI), to mentor a local adolescent with CF, and to always recycle, even if it meant
stockpiling items for weeks until she was healthy enough to make the trip downstairs to the recycling
bins in her apartment building. She did what she could, and expected others would do the same.
Who was Elizabeth Nash? Liz was a scientist, an artist, a musician, a skier, a basketball fan, and a
volunteer who happened to have Cystic Fibrosis. That was how she thought about it, and that was
what made her such an inspiration.
| Liz (left), Carolyn, and Christine, at a Stanford basketball game |
| Mom and Liz in her lab at University of Utah |
| Liz skiing at Snowbird, Utah |
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| Liz (right) finishing a triathlon in 1997 with a little support from Christine (left) and Pat (middle) |
Elizabeth Nash Foundation
PO Box 1260
Los Gatos, CA 95031-1260
PO Box 1260
Los Gatos, CA 95031-1260
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About Us:
| DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THOSE AFFECTED BY CYSTIC FIBROSIS |
