Love is what survives. 

To know Claire was to love Claire. When she entered a room, it came alive. Fully present, intuitively generous, and endlessly fun, Claire was the kind of extrovert who fed off the energy of the room and then gave it all back. Her signature laugh—bright, loud, unfiltered joy—was infectious. Once you heard it, you couldn’t help but smile. Being with Claire meant being seen, being lifted, and being completely in the moment.

 

From the start, she stood apart — big green eyes, a head of wild black curls, and a presence that was equal parts silly and self-assured. Claire walked to the beat of her own drum and made no apologies for it. As a kid, she was inclusive, aware, and quick to befriend anyone. There are countless examples, but one that sticks out is the time a principal sent home a note praising Claire for helping a Spanish-speaking classmate with her reading. She was a good student, well-liked by her teachers, and thrived in gymnastics, soccer, and music. Claire moved effortlessly between social circles—versatile, warm, and naturally magnetic. She was a leader and a born entertainer who loved putting on a show.

 

As the years passed, Claire didn’t just grow—she rose. She became fierce and truly unstoppable, the kind of woman who met rejection with resolve and turned obstacles into open doors. When her employer offered to fund her MBA, Claire set her sights on DU’s selective program. She was rejected—on paper. But paper couldn’t capture her grit. She found a way: secured a meeting, charmed the program director, and earned her spot. By 27, she was the president of a small commercial furniture company. She climbed to the top, looked around, and realized that something was missing. So she recalibrated and began the lifelong work of pursuing opportunities that aligned her ambition with her heart—finding more balance, more connection, and work centered around lifting others up.

 

Colorado became home for Claire—she left for college and never looked back. It’s where she built her incredible community, her “Colorado family,” as she proudly called them. She met Sean at après ski, one of her favorite settings, and they quickly fell into step — adventurous, driven and full of laughter. When Dayton arrived, that joy grew deeper, brighter, and a little more chaotic (in the best way). Claire often said that from a very young age, Dayton was full of fiery wisdom—and that she had so much to learn from her.

 

Claire gave everything to the people she loved. Fiercely. Fully. She cheered louder. Showed up harder. She felt deeper. As a mom, Claire was unwavering—completely devoted to Dayton’s growth, joy, and wholeness. While pregnant, she choked down frozen fish eggs daily to boost brain power because she’d read it might help. That’s Claire in a nutshell—if it mattered, she was all in.

 

Claire helped so many people through their darkest moments, and even in her own struggle, she never stopped searching for the light—for herself and for everyone else. That’s truly her legacy: to lift, to love, to light the way.

 

To honor her, ground yourself in what matters. Love your people fiercely. Laugh loudly. Be the friend who shows up. And be the light—like Claire always was.

 

Claire is lovingly survived by her daughter, Dayton, her husband, Sean, her sister, Sarah, her brother, Nate, and her parents, Carrie and Bob.