Claire Elizabeth Marty

1987 - 2016

Claire Elizabeth Gilbert Marty died Saturday, March 19, 2016, at Papworth Hospital in England. Claire was a sweet, kind, creative, and thoroughly beautiful friend, with an incredible capacity to love everyone around her for precisely who they are. Friends and family around the world are mourning her unexpected and sudden death. Claire was born in Sacramento, California, on October 6, 1987, to Sabina and Mark Gilbert. Music and soccer filled her childhood. Her 10 years in the Sacramento Children's Chorus nurtured her life-long love of music. Her passion for soccer took root while playing as a child and through high school. Claire absolutely loved the beauty and strategy of the game of soccer - a love that persisted, undiminished, after three ruined knees left her unable to play - and she became and remained an avid fan of professional soccer. Central to her passion for these activities, though, was the importance of friends and communities. Her childhood was not just filled with music and soccer but with teams and choruses that became extended families. In 2006, Claire graduated from Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento and ventured to St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where she cultivated her love of literature and writing as an English major. She was a member of the St. Olaf College Cantorei; studied in Norway, Italy, and Germany; coached youth soccer; and made many dear friends. It was here that she met Michael Marty, a chemistry and math major. The two became great friends freshman year through their shared participation in the Great Conversation program, and they began dating their senior year. In May of 2010, Claire and Michael graduated from St. Olaf and relocated to Urbana, Illinois, where they married on July 15, 2011. Claire worked as an assistant and then developmental editor at Human Kinetics Publishing while Michael studied for his PhD in chemistry at the University of Illinois. Upon completion of Michael's PhD in 2013, Claire and Michael moved to Oxford, England, where they enjoyed traveling, English "football" and culture, and a new community of friends. While Michael continued his chemistry career as a postdoctoral research associate at Oxford University, Claire was able to focus on and develop a long nurtured and closely guarded passion: her creative writing. She leaves behind a treasured legacy of notebooks and files filled with ideas, short stories, and a nearly completed novel. Just weeks before moving back to the U.S., Claire contracted an aggressive lung infection that took her life far too soon. With Claire's death, we have seen the shape of her life take form in the outpouring of compassion and kindness from those who knew her. We find that this young woman, a most humble and unassuming of souls, has made a profound impact on the world around her through her kindness and humanity. We are all sweeter, braver, and gentler - each of us a better person for having known her. The love that she gave and received will continue on. Claire is survived by her husband Michael Marty; her parents Sabina and Mark Gilbert of Sun Valley, Idaho; her brother David Gilbert of Sun Valley, Idaho; her grandmother Pat Doval of Sacramento; and many aunts and uncles and cousins. Claire is also survived by her parents-in-law Ann & Tim Marty and sister-in-law Leah Marty of Monticello, Illinois; and her brother-in-law Philip Marty. Contributions may be made in memory of Claire Elizabeth Gilbert Marty to the Sacramento Children's Chorus, 25 Cadillac Dr. #100, Sacramento, California 95825. Memorial contributions also may be made in the name of Claire Elizabeth Gilbert Marty to St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfield, MN 55057 and can be made online at https://stolaf.wufoo.com/forms/give-online-onetime-gift/. Contributions will be used to support and encourage young creative writers and the college. A Memorial Mass for Claire will be celebrated on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at 10:00 a.m., at Holy Spirit Church, 3159 Land Park Drive, Sacramento, CA 958218. A reception will follow. The Sacramento Children's Chorus Spring Concert, The Singing Revolution, will be dedicated to Claire and will be on Sunday, May 1, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. at Carmichael Seventh Day Adventist Church, 4600 Winding Way, Carmichael, CA. The funeral service for Claire, along with her interment, will be at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Urbana, IL.