CHRISTINE MARY HESS

1952-2021

Christine Mary Hess, age 69, died of non-COVID acute respiratory distress syndrome on August 4 at Houston Methodist West Hospital.

The daughter of the late Fenne and Olga Hess, she was born in Philadelphia, PA on May 5,1952 and grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ. A graduate of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Chris received a master’s degree in education from the University of New Orleans.

A Houston resident for more than 40 years, Chris served as senior consultant for Region 4 Education Service Center and directed special education departments in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and Spring ISD, where she later led professional development.. She also worked as a consultant to school systems across the country implementing federal special education law. Chris was passionate about including students with special needs in general education classes and about ensuring their transition to post-secondary education, jobs and adult life. She retired in December 2020.

A Neil Diamond super fan, Chris also loved Broadway musicals, catching shows on tour in Houston. She cherished her adult children, Elizabeth Anne Hess Pickens of Houston and Maxwell Hess Pickens (Chelsea Torres) of Katy. She is also survived by her sister, Mary Anne Hess (Dan Freedman) of Silver Spring, MD, one niece, two nephews, a great niece, three great nephews and her former husband, Thomas Pickens of Houston.

A memorial gathering will be at a later date. Donations in her memory may be made to The Center for Pursuit, a nonprofit offering services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, 4400 Harrisburg Blvd., Houston, TX 77011. Online at thecenterforpursuit.org.