Catherine Ellen Poindexter

Catherine Ellen Poindexter, 24, of Severna Park died of HLH on September 21, 2017. Catherine was born September 14, 1993 in Jacksonville, NC, the daughter of Mary Claire (McKenna) and Scott Poindexter, LtCol USMC (ret). She enjoyed many family moves with the Marine Corps, sparking an interest in travel and adventure. A 2011 graduate from Severna Park High School, Catherine swam for SPY and did internships with the National Aquarium and Severna Park Vet Hospital while in high school. Catherine graduated from Virginia Tech in 2016 with a Bachelors degree in Animal Science. While a Hokie, she was a member of Sigma Alpha sorority, studied abroad in South Africa, worked in a research lab, completed an internship at Disney University, became a certified scuba diver with the Scuba Club, and organized spring break dive trips to the Bahamas. Her Capstone project involved 3 months of research and rescue of turtles in Costa Rica. Her graduation request was a week-long backpacking trip with her dad along the Appalachian trail in the Shenandoah National Forest. Catherine worked for 7 summers at Broadcreek Memorial Scout Reservation in the aquatics program. She became a skillful boat operator and especially enjoyed running the overnight kayak camping trips. Upon graduation from Virginia Tech, Catherine worked at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda as an Animal Care and Use Coordinator and was always planning her next adventure. Catherine is preceded in death by her grandfather John F. McKenna, and cousin Ryan McKenna. She is survived by her parents; brothers Christian and Matthew; grandparents Christian and Marilyn Poindexter of Arnold, MD and Palm Beach Gardens, FL; grandmother Claire McKenna of Severna Park, MD; as well as many loving Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins, countless friends and her beloved dog, Izzy. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, October 7, 2017 at 11:00am at Our Lady of the Fields, 1070 Cecil Avenue South, Millersville, MD 21108 with interment afterwards in the church columbarium. A reception and celebration of Catherine's life will follow immediately in the OLF Church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Catherine may be directed to support the research of Dr. Elias Zambidis or to support research within the Johns Hopkins Division of Pediatric Oncology. Please make checks payable to The Johns Hopkins Division of Pediatric Oncology and mail to the Johns Hopkins Division of Pediatric Oncology, Office of Development, 750 East Pratt Street, Suite 1700, Baltimore, MD 21202 or make a memorial gift online at www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kidscancer. Please include the following information so the proper acknowledgements can be made: Catherine E. Poindexter; Daughter of Mary Claire and Scott Poindexter; Donor's name, or if a group, the contact person; and Donor or contact person's address.