Catherine Cleland

Catherine (Tina) Cleland of Kensington, Maryland, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 4, 2022. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and her connection to New Orleans remained strong throughout her life. Tina graduated from Cornell University and served as President of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She moved to Washington, DC where she received her MBA from George Washington University. Tina led a life of public service. She was assistant to Arthur Fleming and Donald Rumsfeld followed by 18 years at the Department of Health and Human Services. She spent 10 years at U.S. Agency for International Development as a Project Director and then as Senior Analyst for Performance Measurement and Evaluation. Her career in the US and international health care field led her to become an independent consultant analyzing foreign health care systems and advising governments on health care reform. Throughout her career, an important part of her work was focused on aiding 10 former Soviet bloc countries. Tina was recognized for her professional contributions with numerous awards and honors. Tina extended her generous heart beyond her vast circle of loved ones in supporting many organizations through her volunteer efforts. She served on the Vestry of Christ Church Kensington, was a Past President of the Junior League of Washington and Chair of the Board for the Visiting Nurses Association. In addition, Tina served as a member of the Boards of Directors of National Rehabilitation Hospital, Medlantic Healthcare Group/Washington Hospital Center, NyumbaniUSA, and Mobile Medical Care. Of her many philanthropic endeavors, two were particularly close to her heart in recent years: her years of work to improve the plight of AIDS orphans in Africa, and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, where she attended a retreat for cancer patients that was life changing and led to her work as a tireless advocate for improving the lives of cancer survivors. Following her initial diagnosis of cancer, Tina joined WeCanRow DC in 2006, where she discovered a passion for rowing. For the rest of her life, she was a tireless advocate for rowing and encouraged many breast cancer survivors to take up the sport. Tina was an active member of the Potomac Boat Club and a sculling program at Bladensburg, Maryland. Tina was married to Charles (Rusty) Cleland and resided in Kensington, Maryland for 44 years. In addition to her husband and their son, David Chalaron Cleland, Tina is also survived by her three brothers, William Forrester, Jr. (Regan), David Forrester (Georgia Wilemon), and Stephen Forrester; brother-in-law Robert Cleland (Molly) and sister-in-law Joan Cleland; nieces Tully Jordan (Paul), Penn Iarocci (T.J.), Erica Cleland Shepard (John), Elsa Cleland (John-O), Alison Cleland (Francesco and their son Alec Mutti); and nephews Will Forrester (Julia) and Thom Cleland (Christiane). Tina possessed a remarkable gift for making and sustaining friendships from varied backgrounds, from every stage of her life, and from all parts of the world - all of whom will miss her dearly. A memorial service will be held December 10, 2022 at 2pm at Christ Episcopal Church, 4001 Franklin Street, Kensington, Maryland. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations in Tina's memory to be made to: Smith Center for Healing and the Arts (www.smithcenter.org), designating your contribution for "cancer retreats", or to WeCanRow DC (www.wecanrowdc.com).