Those wishing to honor the life of astronaut and UW-Madison alumna Dr. Laurel Clark gathered in the Wisconsin Union Theater for a memorial service organized by United Campus Ministries Tuesday afternoon.
Clark, 41, and her six fellow astronauts aboard the space shuttle Columbia lost their lives in the Feb. 1 disaster.
Tuesday's memorial service affirmed that there were a great number of people touched by Clark's life at UW-Madison. She was remembered not only for being a symbol of inspiration as a NASA astronaut, but also for maintaining strong ties to the city and people of Madison and the state of Wisconsin and for being forever loyal to her alma mater, UW-Madison.
Speakers at the memorial service included Jessica Doyle, wife of Gov. Jim Doyle; Wendy Bellman, representing Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis.; and Paula Bonner, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Alumni Association.
Doyle spoke to the audience about Clark's remarkable career and the symbol of achievement and pride that she was for the entire state of Wisconsin.
\We mourn the loss of the seven courageous astronauts on board the space shuttle Columbia. Our hearts and prayers continue to go out to the families they have left behind,"" she said. ""Dr. Laurel Clark was a true daughter of Wisconsin. The list of her accomplishments is incredible.""
Bonner reminisced about Clark, who finished her undergraduate studies at UW-Madison in 1983, earned her medical degree from the UW Medical School in 1987 and was an unrelenting Badgers fan. ""Go Badgers!"" was a frequent line of Clark's, even well after she graduated from UW-Madison, according to Bonner.
""Dr. Clark meant a lot to the UW-Madison community, the City of Madison and the state of Wisconsin,"" said Josh Kelner, a freshman at UW-Madison. ""She will undoubtedly be sorely missed by everyone whose life she touched, albeit directly or indirectly.\
