Obituary of Kristen Carlberg

Kristen Carlberg died at age 60 in Portland, almost four years after a diagnosis of metastatic colon cancer. Kristen was a scientist, animal lover, and photographer. After earning bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in biology at Washington State University, University of Washington, and John Hopkins University, she spent a career as a research scientist studying the cell biology of cancer and the genetics of aging at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, University of Washington, and University of Texas at San Antonio. During her retirement in Portland, she volunteered at cat shelters and for cat rescue and fostering activities, was active in bearded collie associations and competitions, and took her Delta Society trained dog to retirement homes. She was a talented photographer who could get any cat to smile for the camera. She photographed hundreds of cats for adoption ads, as well as all kinds of wild animals encountered during her travels. She traveled extensively throughout the U.S., including a bicycle trip from Oregon to Virginia, as well as in Europe and Japan. She was married to Mark Pennak in 1979-1988. Kristen is survived by her parents, Ed and Betty Carlberg, San Juan Island, WA, sister Karen, Spokane, WA, and brother, sister-in-law, and niece, Robert, Debbie, and Sören, of Edmonds. Arrangements by Crown Memorial Center - Tualatin