Tina Nelson was born on June 20, 1957 and died peacefully on October 19, 2005, after courageously fighting cancer for one and a half years.

Tina had served as Executive Director of the American Anti-Vivisection Society from 1995 until her death. Throughout her leadership at AAVS, the organization grew, and through her personal efforts, AAVS became established as a valued partner in important joint efforts, such as winning a permanent retirement facility for chimpanzees in laboratories and establishing rigorous, consistent international standards for cruelty free products. Along the way, Tina established many friendships as a result of her easy-going and fun-loving personality.

During her tenure, the organization championed a series of technical and legal policy issues, such as advancing alternatives for production of monoclonal antibodies, inclusion of birds, rats and mice under the Animal Welfare Act, and opposition of patenting and cloning of animals. In addition, AAVS expanded its line of popular high quality educational materials, such as the AV Magazine; educational services, such as The Science Bank lending library of Animalearn; advertising campaigns, and websites. Encouraging a youthful and energized staff, Tina was responsible for establishing a signature contemporary and attractive graphic style in all outreach materials.

Her lifelong commitment to helping animals began a career path when, following graduation from Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture with a B.S. degree in Biology, she was employed by the Bucks County SPCA, where she became Chief Cruelty Investigator for several years. She then accepted a position as a Domestic Relations Officer for Bucks County Courts, where she exercised her mediation skills.

Tina never wavered in her dedication to animals and soon resumed that interest by becoming Program Coordinator for the Humane Society of the United States' Great Lakes Regional office in Ohio. While there, she championed the interests of a tragically captive chimpanzee, Sam, persevering through the successes and setbacks that are characteristic of such cases. The experience reinforced her determination to help primates in particular.

When she returned to Pennsylvania, she established Kind Earth, a cruelty-free and ecological products store in Doylestown. The store was popular with local animal activists and a reliable source of information on local and national advocacy for animals and the environment. While operating the store, she returned to school to obtain an M.A. degree in Environmental Science Education at Beaver College. Kind Earth was a success and the store expanded twice before she sold it in 1995 in order to devote her time to leadership of AAVS and her growing children, Brit and Cole.

Tina is missed by her family and friends and remembered by many. Click here to view entries from the Guest Book which collected tributes and remembrances on the AAVS website after her death.