Individual Details

Death

Obituary: Claire Russell Aucoin passed away on May 30, 2006, at the Duke University Medical Center after a courageous battle against cancer. Mrs. Aucoin was born Dec. 24, 1929, in Savannah, Ga. She was the daughter of the late Agnes Jenkins and Marshall Russell. Mrs. Aucoin married Clayton Aucoin in Savannah, Ga., in 1952. Their 54-year partnership was one of both professional and personal success and serves as a model for her children and many friends. Mrs. Aucoin's greatest love was her husband, their children, and her grandchildren. Most happy when she was with her family, she hosted many holiday celebrations and family vacations through which she showed her love and taught her grandchildren the value of family. She will be always remembered for her kindness, intelligence and integrity. After graduation from Shorter College and receipt of a master's degree in mathematics from Auburn University, Mrs. Aucoin had a long career teaching mathematics with special interest in teaching introductory courses and calculus. She retired from Clemson University in 1988. The Department of Mathematics established the Claire and Clayton Aucoin Scholarship for Graduate Studies to honor Dr. and Mrs. Aucoin's contributions to the department. She is survived by her husband of Seneca, and three children and their spouses, Leslie Aucoin (Vernon Drew) of Silver Spring, Md., Marica Springfield (Randy) of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Ralph Aucoin (Marisol) of Clemson. She leaves five grandchildren, Thomas Drew, Patrick and Kelly Springfield and Kevin and Jean Paul Aucoin. Mrs. Aucoin is also survived by three sisters, Jean Johnson of Elizabethton, Tenn., Ann Lukawecki of Seneca, and Ray Wilkins of Durham, N.C. To honor her memory and celebrate her life, the family will host a reception on Saturday, June 3, 2006, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Alumni Center at Clemson University. With respect for the research and medical care that prolonged her life, the family requests that memorials be made in Mrs. Aucoin's memory to the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, DUMC Box 3828, Durham, NC 27710 (Please indicate the donation be used for the research of Dr. Kelly Marcom).
Memorials may also be made to the Claire and Clayton Aucoin Scholarship for Graduate Studies, Department of Mathematics at Clemson University. Cremation Society of South Carolina is serving the Aucoin family. (Published in The Greenville News: 06-02-2006)