Teresa "Hellcat" Hollingsworth

1975 - 2025

Teresa "Hellcat" Hollingsworth ended her time on Earth on May 21, 2025, at the age of 49 after a four-year journey with cancer. She passed peacefully at home surrounded by dear friends and family.

Welcomed into the world by Linda Toth (Taylor) and Michael Nettleton in Denver on Oct. 19, 1975, Teresa's first action was to take a swing at the doctor who delivered her, establishing a lifelong habit of independence and fierce loyalty to the people, places and causes she loved. Born to boss, Teresa sharpened her rhetoric skills at an early age by debating endlessly with grandparents, parents or any adult who could handle it.

Teresa grew up hiking and cross-country skiing in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Her academic path began at the University of Colorado where she first investigated the microcosm of interesting and diverse alpine flowers and plants. She studied for a Master's degree in Lancaster, England, which led her to Fairbanks, Alaska, in 2000 for Ph.D. studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

In Fairbanks she met the love of her life, Jamie Hollingsworth, and the two were quickly engaged and united in marriage in 2001. They built a home and a vibrant life of love together, realizing that their respective strengths fit together like the roots of two trees intertwined not only to support each other, but also the entire community of friends and family surrounding them. Teresa brought the sparks and fire to their relationship, while Jamie was always and forever her steady rock.

In 2013, Liam came into Teresa and Jamie's lives, and their beautiful family became complete. Like a chip off the old block, Liam possesses much of the keenly honed debate skills and headstrong fierceness of his mama, and has kept Teresa and Jamie busy.

Over her 20-plus year career, Teresa was a research ecologist at the U.S. Forest Service and a principal investigator with the National Science Foundation-funded Bonanza Creek Boreal Long Term Ecological Research program. Through this work, Teresa happily trudged through countless black spruce bogs, cataloging innumerable mosses and lichens and helping us to understand the function and resilience of the boreal forest. More recently, Teresa took on leadership roles with the Forest Service, shaping policy and influencing the lives of many early career scientists.

Her science is part of the legacy she leaves with us. The mosses and small plants at our feet are part of a bigger interconnected system that do what seems impossible: move water, cycle nutrients and regulate climate. Her life serves as a reminder that what seems petite and unassuming on its own can move mountains when part of a bigger collaborative, interconnected system.

Hellcat had an outward way of facing the world, bravely fumbling forward to fight injustices, but under that tough skin was a deep respect of the planet. Her love of nature and willingness to engage with it took a myriad of forms - skiing, running, rafting, fishing, hiking, science, biology, gardening, knitting. Every way in which she could engage with this planet, she did and she inspired others to do so as well.

She was a fierce supporter of people and ideas - if she liked you, you knew it. You also knew you could count on her loyalty forever.

Teresa was preceded in death by her father, Michael Nettleton, and is survived by her husband, Jamie; son, Liam; mother, Linda Toth; brother, Lorien Nettleton; and countless legions of friends who are lucky to have her deeply embedded in their hearts and souls.

The family intends to hold a celebration of life for Teresa later this summer, for questions reach out to Lorien at 907-315-3533.

To support Liam's future education and honor Teresa's scientific legacy, please consider making a donation at gofund.me/ae9fa435.