Christine M. Cox-Marinelli

Died peacefully on February 24 ^th , 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her family by her side. One of nine brothers and sisters, Chris was born on August 12 ^th , 1957 in Topeka, Kansas. Pursuing a longstanding desire to serve others, Chris graduated from medical school from The Ohio State University in 1984 and began her career in neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota. During her residency training, she met the love of her life, Bill Marinelli. Expertly balancing the demands of motherhood and her career, Chris was particularly passionate about epilepsy surgery.

In 2001, her career as a surgeon ended after developing a rare autoimmune vasculitis. Despite her debilitating chronic illness, Chris characterized her life by an overflowing love and joy for the people near to her. For those who knew Chris, her unwavering strength and positive attitude amidst incredible personal challenges served as an inspiration to live life to its fullest. In lieu of serving others through neurosurgery, she held many roles within the Vasculitis Foundation. In every way, she embodied the adage, “It’s not about the hand you’ve been dealt, but how you play the cards.”

Chris is survived by her husband Bill, their two children, John and Kathleen, and their grandson, Will.

Donations may be made to the Vasculitis Foundation at https://www.vasculitisfoundation.org .