Dr. Candace Amy Pritchard
Photo
Candace's obituary
Dr. Candace Amy Pritchard February 18, 1988 – January 21, 2025
With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Dr. Candace Amy Pritchard, who left this world unexpectedly yet peacefully on January 21, 2025, in Seattle WA, due to complications from an autoimmune disease.
Born on February 18, 1988, in San Luis Obispo, California, Candace was a force of nature—intelligent, adventurous, and endlessly curious. Her early years were spent in Lone Pine and Independence, where her mother married Kevin McDonough, gifting Candace with her stepbrothers, Ryan and Mickey. Even as a child, she was both analytical, competitive, and artistic - an excellent student, playing baseball and soccer (inspired by her brothers) but also dressing up and hosting lavish tea parties in the front yard, complete with fine linens and glassware.
Candace moved to Bishop, CA, when her mother married Don Pritchard. Here she thrived in a variety of activities from 4-H, horse shows, and volleyball to band and the school rifle squad. Within one year, she overcame her fear of the water, learned to swim, and then placed in the top 5 at two state swim championships (butterfly and backstroke). It was also during these years in the Owens Valley that she discovered her lifelong love for geology, joining a group of retiree rock-hounders and trekking through the Inyo Mountains. At just eight years old, she was cataloging specimens with data cards for each. One of her most cherished finds was a coveted Smithsonite specimen from the Cerro Gordo mine which remains in her collection today.
The family relocated to Morro Bay where Candace to attended High School. She was adopted by Don, officially taking his name and gaining step-sisters Jaime and Carrie Pritchard. Here, she continued swimming and playing volleyball, joined the Morro Bay Junior Lifeguards, and developed a love for surfing, skateboarding, and marine life. She worked at Morro Bay Surf Company, where she helped with sales, surfing events, and branding.
Never one to shy away from a challenge or adventure, Candace then briefly pursued fashion modeling after earning 23 callbacks from multiple agencies across the at a Los Angeles casting call. This led to a residence and agency work in New York City which included appearances on NBC’s "Today Show," Macy’s ads, and being cast in a season of Heidi Klum’s "Project Runway." Her heart, however, longed for deeper intellectual challenges. She returned to California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB), where she earned a B.S. in Biology and was encouraged by her professors to apply for a prestigious research internship at Purdue University.
At Purdue, Candace thrived in research, earning a Student Researcher position and ultimately pursuing a Ph.D. in Biology (Plant Pathology). When her lab relocated to the University of Maryland in 2012, she continued her research and teaching, earning her doctorate in 2019. Her passion for education and mentorship was clear. Over nine semesters, she was recognized twice with the Chris Walsh Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award. She later lectured at UC Davis, where students praised her ability to make complex topics engaging, insightful, and deeply relatable while maintaining high learning standards.
Candace was far more than a scientist—she was an artist, an adventurer, and an independent spirit. Even before she could write her name, she was drawing and painting with remarkable precision, later earning certifications in marine biology textbook illustration. Art was her sanctuary, and after her autoimmune diagnosis, hospitalization, and recovery at home in 2021/2022, she used art to regain her manual dexterity and mobility. Her love of geology from childhood evolved into a passion for silversmithing, where she hand-selected turquoise, labradorite, and other gemstones, forging them into intricate, one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. Though she planned to sell her work, she had difficulty building inventory - gifting her creations to others, valuing the smile they brought to someone's face more than profit.
Candace’s adventurous spirit extended beyond academia and art—she loved motorcycles and her beloved pets. She was a co-founder of The Litas Santa Barbara, a women’s motorcycle collective, and rode across California and the Eastern U.S., from North Carolina to New York. She also hand-painted custom motorcycle helmets, each one a unique expression of what inspired her to paint them - in DC it was her "cherry blossoms" helmet.
Candace made her final move to Seattle in 2023. She rekindled her passion for mentorship and education in her role supervising a team at a biotech firm. Here, she guided young professionals in their transition from academia into their careers, which resulted in lower turnover rates and increased job satisfaction.
Often joking about her journey through college mascots—a Cougar (Cuesta), an Otter (CSUMB), a Boilermaker (Purdue), and finally a Terrapin (Maryland). She had strong opinions on academic rivalries (absolutely no Banana Slugs!) but, true to her spirit, she always rooted for the underdog.
Candace’s journey spanned many places—from various points in California, to New York City, to Indiana, Maryland, and Washington—but no matter where she was, she left an impact. She was a scientist, an educator, an artist, an adventurer, a dreamer, and, as many have said, an intensely loyal friend, and one of the most remarkable people they’ve ever known.
Honoring Candace’s Memory
To honor Candace’s memory, we ask that you donate blood at your local American Red Cross or research hospital blood bank. She required transfusions and plasma donations for her IVIg therapy, and this will become an annual tradition on her birthday, February 18th.
Candace is survived by her mother, Marylou Pritchard, her dad, Don Pritchard (Pritch), extended family, and countless friends, colleagues, students, and loved ones who were touched by her brilliance, kindness, beauty, and unwavering spirit. We invite all who knew and loved Candace to share memories and photos on these pages, which will serve as a gathering space to celebrate her remarkable life.
A celebration of life will be held at Dargans in Santa Barbara in May 2025 (exact date to be determined). Details will be shared as they become available.
Send to someone
Want to stay updated?
Share this memorial website
Share with others
