Christine “Tina” Clark Boesz, 69, of Port Republic passed away on November 24, 2013 at her home in Washington, D.C. Born May 26, 1944 to Stanley and Cecilia Clark in Bridgeton, N.J. Tina excelled in just about everything she laid her head and hand to in life. She began her excellent career by graduating valedictorian from her high school class of more than 600 graduates. Because her high school guidance counselor told her that only men have successful careers in mathematics, Tina majored in math at Douglass College, the all female college at Rutgers University. She was later the first female admitted to the Rutgers University School of Applied Statistics graduating with honors. In 1968, Tina was hired as an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Valdosta State College. She later worked for the Bexar County Area Planning Council in San Antonio, TX as a statistician. Tina quickly moved on to become the first female director of a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) in the US working for Bexar County Medical Association. Simultaneously, Tina applied her skills to the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) where she travelled extensively across the US evaluating VISTA programs. In 1978, she was sought by the US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) to develop policies and procedures for evaluating and approving HMO programs. She later headed the office that evaluated and approved HMO programs across the US signing contracts in excess of $10 Billion. In 1995, Tina was hired away from the federal government by New York Life – later Aetna. She served as Vice President for Health Programs. In 1990, she was accepted as a Pew Foundation Fellow and entered a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program at the University of Michigan. In 1997, she was awarded her DrPH. In 2000, Tina was again sought by the US government this time as the Inspector General of the National Science Foundation (NSF.)This was Tina’s dream job combining her management skills, evaluation skills, and accounting skills with her love for world travel. She was blessed to have a staff of 125 highly motivated auditors, and scientists who were dedicated to the integrity of scientific research funded by taxpayer dollars. Wishing to build ever stronger monitoring of research, Tina established the first joint venture between the US NSF and that of the European Union. She later made this same effort by co-chairing the first meeting between the US NSF and that of China in an effort to assure research integrity. She didn’t stop there; she then co-chaired a committee of the Office of Economic Coordination and Development (OECD) on the subject of research integrity. In retirement, Tina continued to indulge her other passion: interacting with the world’s people by traveling to every US state, to every continent, over every ocean. She visited the polar ice cap and the South Pole. Even with her all consuming responsibilities, Tina made huge contributions to her communities as well. She was an active member of ZONTA mentoring young women on their way to success. She served as the President of her Community Association at Scientists’ Cliffs. She was active in the American Chestnut Land Trust, Ann Marie Gardens, and several honor societies. And, she served on the board of the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health. She is survived by her husband of more than 48 years, Colonel Daniel Boesz and numerous cousins across the four corners of the world. Her many friends will sorely miss her lavish gourmet dinners, and lively tales of her beloved world travels and the countless people she met along the way.
Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery in a private family ceremony. Donation may be made to the National Cancer Society or to the American Chestnut Land Trust. ACLT, P.O. Box 2363, Prince Frederick, MD 20678.