Jennifer Marie Aldrich Streicker

Jennifer Marie Aldrich Streicker died on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, in her home after a 12 year battle with breast cancer. Her husband of 17 years, Mike Streicker was at her side along with her mother and her cherished dogs.

Jennifer was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma on September 19, 1974 the eldest child of Madonna and Robert Aldrich. As a child she traveled the world with her Army family residing in Germany, England and in the U.S. in New York, Georgia, and Virginia. She was an accomplished scientist who graduated from Virginia Tech in 1996 with a degree in biology. She began her career at Covance in Fairfax, VA where she met her husband Mike. They moved to Cary, North Carolina in 1999 where Jennifer was involved in biomedical research with Charles River Labs.

Jennifer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. She did much to advance science and care of breast cancer patients due to her commitment to science, even as she was a patient herself. She received four Telly awards for her groundbreaking PSA, “Jen’s Story” focused on the critical role of biomedical research and nominated for an Emmy for a 30 minute documentary. She was also a member of Duke Pathfinders, a support group founded in 2009 comprised of 50 women with stage 4 Cancer. Jennifer was one of three surviving members at the time if her death.

She spoke as a patient advocate and graced the label of a Cleavage Creek wine bottle.

Throughout her life she embraced adventure and travel. From Rome to Paris, San Juan to Napa Valley, to swimming with dolphins and sea turtles. She took up SCUBA in 2008 and sought out any opportunity to be in the water, logging dives from North Carolina to Florida and across the Caribbean. She also was a participant and supporter of First Descents, an organization for those facing life after cancer where she experienced white water kayaking in Montana.

She had a large loving family and great friends across the country. In addition, to being survived by her husband, Mike, of Cary, NC, she is also survived by her mother Madonna Aldrich of Fairfax, VA and her partner Maureen Delaney and her father Robert Aldrich and his wife Martha Aldrich also of Fairfax. Her brothers Rob C. Aldrich and her niece Cavanna of Maynard, MA, and Michael H. Aldrich, his wife, Catherine and nieces, Isla, Vivian and Grace of Freeland, MD, and her loving dogs Montana and Tucker

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory can be made to http://support.firstdescents.org/jenstreicker

The Celebration of her life will be held at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Cary, North Carolina at 1 pm on August 20th with a reception to follow at TMac restaurant.