Stephanie Schulz, 58, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics at Thomas Jefferson University, died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 9. Stephanie was born on Aug. 10, 1954 in Peekskill, New York, daughter of Carol and Robert Schulz of Johnson, Vermont, formerly of Guilford.  She attended high school in Guilford, received a BS in biology in 1976 from the University of Connecticut, and a PhD in zoology from the University of Vermont in 1987.

Stephanie’s research and teaching career included post-doctoral positions in laboratories at Vanderbilt University and the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center, where she was a Howard Hughes Fellow.  She joined the staff of the Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Department at Thomas Jefferson University in 1994.  Stephanie authored or co-authored over 25 research papers in her career, and is the assignee on over a dozen patents.  She enjoyed teaching and was a supportive mentor to many graduate and post-doctoral students.

A cancer survivor from the age of 25, Stephanie overcame the resulting physical debilities with optimism, dry wit, and a fierce independence.  She was a lover of animals, an avid birdwatcher, and a staunch supporter of animal protection groups.  She enjoyed her travels with friends to Portugal, Italy, and Costa Rica, and with her extended family on their annual retreat to Down East Maine.  Stephanie was a unique spirit who will be missed by all of her family, friends, and colleagues.

Besides her parents, she is survived by her brother Eric Schulz and his wife Amy of Johnson, Vermont; her sister Alexandra Schulz Reber and her husband Steven, also of Johnson, Vermont; and her beloved nieces and nephews, to whom she was devoted, Lucas, Anna, and Alexander Schulz, and of Charlotte and William Reber.

Donations in Stephanie’s memory may be made to the North Country Animal League, 3524 Laporte Road, Morrisville, VT  05661.