Christine Elizabeth Pierce

Christine Elizabeth Pierce (née Major), born November 12, 1950, in Georgetown Hospital, Washington, DC, passed away on February 18, 2026 in Tampa, Florida, at the age of 75, after a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer’s. Her parents were Charles and Loretta Major. Chris grew up in the Maryland suburbs of DC, graduating from Notre Dame High school and attending the University of Maryland. She met her surviving husband of 50 years, Prof Sidney K. (Skip) Pierce, Jr., at the university. Chris is also survived by her daughter, Alisa Pierce-Kee, MD; and her beloved grandchildren, Elijah Kee and Sidney Kee, of Tampa, and her son Michael Ren Pierce and his wife, Amy Kaufman of Leesburg FL. Chris is also survived by a brother, David Major, and a sister, Susan Dwyer (née Major).

Chris and her husband lived in Maryland where she taught at College Park Nursery School. They moved to Tampa in 2000 and Chris taught preschool at Carrollwood Day School until she retired in 2011. She had a natural gift for caring for young children and built lasting relationships with the families she served. For two decades, she was also an active member of St. Timothy Catholic Church, a place where her quiet faith and steady presence became familiar to many.

Chris traveled the world with her husband and especially enjoyed frequent visits to New Orleans and Key West. She and her family also spent 30 or more summers living in Woods Hole (Cape Cod) MA. She loved cooking, especially New Orleans cuisine, and expressed her love best by gathering people around the table. Chris will be remembered for her kindness, her generosity, and the warmth she offered freely to others, particularly the children whose lives she helped shape.

Chris will be buried in Woods Hole, a town she loved, next to Skip when he dies. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association, or to the American Diabetes Association in Chris’ name. Chris’ family thanks Maria Serrano of Touchstone Home Care for her faithful, first rate, daily care during the past year.

There will be a service honoring Chris' life on Mar. 7, 2026, at 11 am in St. Timothy's Catholic Church, 17512 Lakeshore Rd, Lutz, FL.