Claire Nelson Fulenwider

Claire Nelson Fulenwider (April 16, 1942 – October 11, 2025) of Santa Fe, New Mexico passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends after a long battle with cancer. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Claire was fiercely independent. She enjoyed the outdoors, especially horseback riding, birding, and fishing. Claire graduated from Milford Mill High School in Randallstown, Maryland and attended Hood College in Frederick, Maryland where she was president of her class.

Claire spent 2 years teaching High School on the Navajo Reservation in Tuba City, Arizona before moving to Madison, Wisconsin for her MA and PhD in Political Science. She taught Women’s Studies, Public Policy and Political Science and the University of Wisconsin-Madison for 5 years. She served a Director of Energy Policy Research at the Wisconsin Center for Public Policy, Executive Director of Market Services for Madison Gas and Electric, President of Heartland Energy Group and Vice President of Business Development at Alliant Energy. Her work as an Energy Consultant took her to India and Egypt with US AID. She also served as a Financial Consultant at Morgan Stanley in Santa Fe. She ended her career as Executive Director for the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance in Portland, Oregon before retiring to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Claire’s community involvement included: The Cerillos Hills Park Coalition (which became the Cerillos Hills State Park), La Bajada Ranch Steering Committee, various LGBTQ+ boards and committees, the Envision Fund, the National Cancer Society (Santa Fe), The Consortium for Energy Efficiency and The Energy Center of Wisconsin. She was a founding member of the New Harvest Foundation in Madison. She was an active member of the Temple Beth Shalom Congregation.

Claire is survived by her wife, Harriet C. Forman, who joyously shared 44 years of life with Claire; her son, Nathan G. Knoche and daughter-in-law, Pamela R. Knoche; her daughter, Nina Knoche, her grandson, Nelson G Knoche; and grandson Travis Dregne, wife Roelie Dregne, great grandchildren James Dregne, Trace Dregne, Aurora Arthofer, and Cora Dregne.

Visitors will be received from 5:30 – 7pm on October 13, 14, and 15 at her home. 110 Camino Teresa, Santa Fe, NM 87505. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled for a later date.