Obituary of Nancy A. Bird

Nancy Alice Bird, 57, of South Orange died on Feb. 13, 2007, after a year-long courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was in the care of the St. Barnabas Hospice at Newark Beth Israel. Private funeral services will be held in the Spring. Arrangements are by The Preston Funeral Home, 153 South Orange Ave., South Orange, N.J. 07079 (www.prestonfuneralhome.com) Nancy was born and raised in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. She received a bachelors degree in the major fields of chemistry and mathematics from Wells College, and a juris doctor degree from Syracuse University College of Law. She attended Rutgers University Graduate School of Engineering, studying in the area of medical devices. Nancy was experienced in substantially all areas of intellectual property law and had extensive experience in the prosecution of patents in the chemical and mechanical areas, especially in areas of medical devices and bio-absorbable and biocompatible polymers. She was a member of the bar of the State of New York and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and was registered to practice before the Untied States Patent and Trademark Office. She was also a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association and the New York Intellectual Property Law Association. Following her education, Nancy was an associate attorney with the patent firm of Brumbaugh Graves Donohue & Raymond in New York City, and a patent attorney for Johnson & Johnson and Arrow International. She had her own solo practice for about the last 15 years, serving a number of entrepreneurs and small businesses with intellectual property issues. She was of counsel to Milde & Hoffberg, LLP, a firm that specializes in intellectual property law. Nancy was a strong advocate of womens education, especially in science and mathematics. Shortly before her death, Nancy established two scholarships at Wells College, to be awarded to young women majoring in chemistry and mathematics. It was her intention that this aid would encourage more women to enter these fields and enjoy them as much as she did. Nancy is survived by sisters and brothers, many nieces, grandnieces, grandnephews and loving friends who will miss greatly her gentle wit, intelligence and beautiful smile. Memorial gifts may be made to the Nancy A. Bird Scholarship Fund, Wells College, 170 Main St., Aurora, N.Y. 13026 and to the St. Barnabas Hospice, 95 Old Short Hills Rd., West Orange, N.J. 07052.