Dr. Clara Lee Schreiner, Ph.D., a biochemist who retired in 2008 as Quality Operations Manager for Talecris Biotherapeutics, died in a tragic automobile accident on August 15, 2018, at the age of 75. Clara was married for 48 years to the late Dr. Anton F. (Tony) Schreiner, Ph.D., retired Professor of Chemistry at North Carolina State University. Clara is survived by her son, Erik Anton Schreiner; daughter-in-law Stacie (née Tyree) Schreiner; and two granddaughters, Sophie Emma and Gretchen Sommers Schreiner.
Survivors also include her younger brother Wayne (Susan) Gall; her brother-in-law Walter (Kathy) Schreiner; many cousins, nieces, and nephews; and her dear longtime friend, Mary Candler Wahl, and the extended Candler family. Clara was predeceased by her older brother, Harold E. (Dorothy) Gall.
Clara was born in Buffalo, NY, on November 21, 1942, the daughter of the late Harold F. and the late Clara T. Gall. Raised nearby in Lancaster, Clara earned her B.S. in Biology at Rosary Hill College in Buffalo in 1964; and M.S. from the Division of Biochemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1965. It was at Illinois that Clara met fellow graduate student, Tony Schreiner; they were married in Lancaster in 1966.
After her marriage, Clara suspended her doctoral studies to work as a research technician at the University of Illinois and in 1968, Clara and Tony moved to Raleigh, NC. After 14 years fully focused on family, Clara returned to graduate school at North Carolina State University and in 1987 Clara completed the doctoral program that she had started so many years before, graduating with her Ph.D. in Biochemistry.
After completing a two-year postdoctoral appointment at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Clara joined Bayer Biologics as a Quality Assurance Product Manager. In her almost 20 years at the company, Clara played a pivotal role in bringing Gamunex to the market, an immunoglobulin product vital to those with primary immunodeficiency disease, low platelet levels, and some neuropathies.
Clara was an avid reader, and faithfully attended the monthly meetings of the Huntingwood Book Club. At the time of her death, Clara was in her third year as a member of the Board, and second year as President, of the Huntingwood Estates Community Association.
When she was not engaged in her highest priority activity --- caring for her two granddaughters --- Clara derived immense satisfaction from gardening, enjoying nature and the outdoors, researching family genealogy, and woodworking. Her passion for all things botanical led her to join the Raleigh Garden Club and the Friday volunteer team at the JC Raulston Arboretum.
Funeral services will be held 11am Saturday, August 25th at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Raleigh, NC. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Clara’s name to JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7522, Raleigh, NC 27695-7522.
