Cameron Grace Estrich
May 18, 1983 – February 13, 2024
Cameron Grace Estrich, MPH, PhD, 40, epidemiologist and suspected fae, passed away peacefully at home in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood, seven months after being diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer.
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Chicago and Skokie, Cameron graduated from Evanston Township High School before earning her bachelor’s in biology from Vassar and her Masters in Public Health in Epidemiology and a PhD in Community Health Sciences from University of Illinois at Chicago.
Dr. Estrich worked for the ADASRI, studying policy implementation, dental professionals’ occupational health, and trends in dental treatment in the U.S. civilian population. As a Public Health epidemiologist, Cameron also researched vaccine hesitancy, mental health issues, and sexual identity. Cameron’s advocacy was instrumental in improving access to the HPV vaccine nationally.
Her real passion was reproductive health, focusing on abortion access and contraception. Enraged at systemic inequities, Cameron donned her scholarly armor and used information to implement DEI before it became an institutional buzzword. Across 47 publications (and more to follow posthumously), Cameron’s research was cited by colleagues more than 1,700 times. She worked with the CDC during the pandemic and was personally cited by the WHO. Her work continues to save people’s lives.
As a precocious preschooler, Cameron demanded stories about people and animals who “saved days.” And she became that person. Cameron lived intentionally, conveying joy and justice, imagination and rigor, comfort and kindness. Her baking and model-clay miniatures were legendary. With her dragon tattoo, purple hair, and swirly black dresses, Cameron fashioned magic. She was any child’s most wondrous playmate, and in their names, she served as a protest marshal in Chicago’s streets, fighting for a more inclusive world.
She asked that her ashes be made into a diamond for her sister. But she has already been that still, bright center in so many lives, concentrating light and reflecting it back.
Please read more at CaringBridge: https://www.caringbridge.org/search?q=cameron+estrich.
Beloved wife of ten years (together for twenty) of Keith Roland Osborne Estrich-Watson. Much loved daughter of Paul Steven Estrich and Dana Des Jardins, devoted and loyal sister to Amelia Lark Kathleen (James “Trevor” Woolery Hateley) Estrich, treasured aunt of Bernadette Grace Hateley Estrich.
Adored housemate of Dana Tamar Carol Simpson and Julie “Julian” Ann Scheff and their daughter Rowan Pearl Scheff.
Step-granddaughter of Elizabeth Roberts. Niece of Tracy (Paul) Jakusz, Donna (Chris Hough) Estrich, and Ralph (Mary Anne) Estrich. Cousin, friend, and respected colleague of many.
Faithful minion of black cats Huginn, Munnin, Morgana, Nimue, Bindi and the late Belladonna and Mandrake.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Doctors Without Borders: https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/ and Midwest Access Coalition: https://www.midwestaccesscoalition.org/.
Celebration of life Sunday, March 10, 12-3pm (service begins 1pm) at Stan Mansion, 2408 N Kedzie, Chicago.
Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-370-2959 or www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.
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March 10, 2024 – 1:00pm cst
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