Laura Hubrich
Membership

On July 1, 2018, Laura Hubrich passed away at the age of 53, ending her three-year battle with cancer. Laura joined our staff in 2012, and was in charge of membership and fundraising. We miss seeing her in the office, hearing her voice on the phone as she spoke with members, and sharing her ready smile and boisterous laugh. Her marketing and bookkeeping skills contributed greatly to our fundraising events while improving our connection with members, donors, and the community. We know that she played the same vital role as a marketing specialist for many other organizations over the years.

Laura was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, but vowed not to let that stop her. It didn’t. She was back at work within months, just as energetic and driven as before. In March 2017, she took a rare day off from the office, joining some of the other staff on a boat cruise around Lake Nacimiento to survey for nesting Bald Eagles. It was a wonderful day of celebrating a Ventana Wildlife Society legacy, and a chance for her to see firsthand the wonderful wildlife that her hard work helped preserve. We didn’t realize then how precious times like that were. By February 2018, the cancer had returned, spreading to her lungs and brain, and starting the fight anew.

Even as she struggled through chemo and radiation therapies, she kept her positive attitude and generous spirit. She dreamed of being healthy again so she could help others with their fight. She wanted to provide relief to cancer patients, particularly those with limited medical coverage, by helping them navigate the legal paperwork and processes needed to get the highest-quality treatment. But finally it was time for her to rest and let others continue that work.