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Colleagues of Dr. Ann Streissguth Reflect on Her Life and Legacy
Kenneth Lyons Jones, M.D.
Formerly, Division of Dysmorphology & Teratology, Department of Pediatrics, The University of California San Diego (UCSD).
Ann Pytkowicz Streissguth PhD was a remarkable human being who spent her life giving of herself to others. She died on August 1, 2023 at 90 years of age in Seattle, Washington. I will never forget calling Ann on the telephone in the early Spring of 1973 to ask her to evaluate a group of children who David Smith and I had seen over the previous 3 weeks, all whom had been prenatally exposed to alcohol. The energy and enthusiasm she exhibited that morning never waned.
Ann is best known for her landmark research documenting the neuropsychological and neurobehavioral features resulting from prenatal exposure to alcohol. However her legacy will include far more than her research accomplishments. Ann became a beacon in the night for children with what is now known as the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, and she was a constant source of information and support for their families.
She traveled throughout the world making people aware of this disorder, and she shared her knowledge with countless neuropsychologists and physicians. All of us who knew her and are part of the FASD Community will move forward with all that she has given us.
Edward Riley, Ph.D.
Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, College of Sciences, San Diego State University
With the passing of Ann Streissguth, the world has lost a rare soul with passion, vitality, an enduring spirit, and a kind, caring, gentle person. I lost a colleague and friend, whom I first met in the late 1970s when FAS was a new issue, and everyone studying this problem knew each other on a personal level. She was a person who you were drawn towards, who you just liked and admired. How could you not like an adventurous, happy soul with curly white hair driving an old MGTD? Someone who brought gardening to new heights in Seattle?
Professionally she was an icon for the field and her scientific contributions are simply too numerous to mention here. However, what I remember most was the personal involvement with and dedication to the people impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure. Ann wasn’t driven by the need to publish another paper or to get another grant, although successful at both. Her understanding and compassion for those with FASD and their families is what will always stand out in my mind. Rest in peace Ann.
Kathleen Tavenner Mitchell, M.H.S.
FASD United, Sr. VP of Prevention and Recovery Services
Every time I reminded my friend, Ann Streissguth, that she was a hero and was the goddess of FASD she would tilt her head, her eyes would flitter and she would flash that huge delightful grin. I was so lucky that I met her when I was just starting out as an FASD advocate. For many years, I touted her large FASD slide presentation along with my heavy slide carousel to schools, trainings, and conferences around the country. Her report on Secondary Disabilities of FASD informed the world with a clearer understanding about the disorders and more importantly how to avoid many of the troubling lifelong outcomes.
I had many opportunities to cross paths with Ann and continue learning from her. If my daughter, Karli Schrider, was with me Ann always made a huge effort to stop and chat with her and actually listen. She would hold her hands and listen. Karli still remembers her fondly to this day. I was so honored to visit her lovely home in Seattle, got a chance to meet her partner Daniel and tour the incredible Streissguth gardens. Ann was a strong, smart, beautiful woman that I admired deeply. In my first sit down with Ann I had shared some apprehensions with her about being so public with my family’s story. She stared straight into my eyes, grabbed both of my hands and said, “The work you are doing is so important, don’t ever doubt yourself. Yours is a story that needs to be told.” Hearing that from her changed me and I’ll never forget beautiful Ann Streissguth.
Paul D. Connor, Ph.D.
University of Washington, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit
The FASD community lost one of it’s pioneers this month in the passing of Dr. Ann Streissguth. I worked with Ann for over a decade, both as a post-doctoral fellow and as a faculty member, in the University of Washington’s Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit. Ann introduced me to the world of FASD. She taught me that although research was critical, it was more important to focus that research around the lived experiences of those with FASD and their families. I have taken that approach to heart and continued with it while moving forward in my practice. I am also happy to know that the importance of including the input from the FASD community lives on with the FASD Changemakers. Our community is diminished by Ann’s passing but we will continue carrying her strong light forward.
Claire D. Coles, Ph.D.
Maternal Substance Abuse and Child Development Program (MSACD), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
As a young scientist, at the first National professional meeting that I attended that included a discussion of FAS, Ann Streissguth was presenting on her ground breaking study Seattle 500 study. After 40 years, I still remember what a presence she was, her energy, her passion for her work and for the people affected by prenatal alcohol exposure. She was a pioneer and an advocate and a force of nature. Her original longitudinal study was model for everyone who came after her in the study of the effects of alcohol and other teratogens and we have all benefited from it and from her graciousness to those who followed her into this field. She has been a source of inspiration to me and to other scientists and of hope to those affected by prenatal alcohol exposure though her tireless efforts in their behalf.
Kathryn Kelly
University of Washington, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit
Just thinking about all Ann meant to all of us brings me to tears repeatedly. All who knew her loved her. Her presentations were so compelling, so informed, so credible that one had no doubt that her message was both true and of great value. She swept her audience along and persuaded all to follow. We miss her and the love, enthusiasm and imagination she brought to the FASD mission. We miss her grace and her compassion, her understanding and acceptance. She spent many hours of each of her working days and sometimes nights talking with those with this disability as well as with their families, caregivers and allies.
In 2001 Ann saw the need to support the establishment of the FASD Legal Issues Resource Center. I was the Project Director and among the important accomplishments of the Center was the development of a forensic FASD Diagnostic Team. A number of defendants with FASD have been saved from the most serious penalties through providing judges and juries with an understanding of the nature of this disability.
In retirement, Ann devoted much of her time to working on the development of the Streissguth Gardens. Ann and her husband Daniel purchased hillside lots adjacent to the Streissguth home and transformed them into a lovely woodland garden. They then gave the garden to the people of Seattle with a promise to maintain it throughout their lifetimes. Their son Ben will continue their legacy. Ann and Dan continued to travel, including bicycle trips combined with river excursions throughout Europe, and hiked and backpacked in the nearby mountains. Ann’s love and enthusiasm for life continued until she left us on August 1, 2023.
William J. Edwards, J.D.
Public Defender, Los Angeles, Former Board Member of FASD United
Ann’s work in the FASD field very much influenced my journey to dedicate my life to identify more children and adults in the criminal justice system and to work to obtain the proper services that they need from the educational field and the developmental disability field. She helped me and many other people, including Dr. Stephen Greenspan, to write and publish about why FASD is a developmental disability that these children are born with at birth.
The most important part of my journey with Ann was getting a chance to publish an article with her, which we did, with many other experts in the FASD field. I can say that if it were not for her work, I probably would not have even decided to travel out to Seattle in the late 1990s to learn about FASD and meet with her. Eventually, we had social events together and every time I visited Seattle, I would always see her and her husband!