SRJC life sciences professor Dr. Claire Shurvinton loved birds, nature and her students, colleagues said in the aftermath of her death from a rare and aggressive form of cancer. She was 55.

Shurvinton died Sept. 9, 2013 in her Sonoma County home, where she was being cared for by her mother.

Shurvinton wanted to be a biologist from as far back as she could remember. She grew up and attended college in England. She moved to the United States to conduct research, then moved to Sonoma County after she had her first child.

The staff put a memorial together for Shurvinton on her office window of things she used to keep in her office: snacks, cartoons, information, pictures and her favorite readings.

In a short autobiography, she talked about her passion for teaching. “From my earliest recollections I have never wanted to be anything other than a biologist,” Shurvinton wrote.

Julie Woodruff was a close friend and colleague to Shurvinton. She only had kind words to say about her teacher. Woodruff talked about how Shurvinton loved teaching her classes and introducing students to doing research. Woodruff also mentioned how Shurvinton was a close friend of hers and actually taught her Bio 10. “We spent many times kayaking at Bodega Bay and the Russian River near Jenner… enjoying the wildlife, especially the birds. Claire loved birds,” Woodruff said.

Peggy Rockwood, another colleague, said Shurvinton was a force to be dealt with. “Claire would say, ‘You have to be really tough and almost mean in the very beginning and then, when everyone knows the rules. you can relax and have fun. Then the good times start,’” Rockwood said.

Rockwood said that Shurvinton loved being outside, hiking, birdwatching, going to the beach with her dog and to Pepperwood Reserve. “She’s a good birder. Hiking with her she would say, ‘Did you hear that?! Did you hear that?’ Then she would tell me what bird it was,” Rockwood said.

“Claire was known in the department as one of the best researchers.”