OJJDP staff members were saddened by the loss of their friend and coworker, Lauren S. Ziegler, 34, who died of a pulmonary embolism on November 7, 2002. For more than 4 years, Ms. Ziegler managed the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, a cooperative effort of OJJDP and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. She was scheduled to receive an award from the White House Advisory Commission on Drug-Free Communities in recognition of her efforts to prevent drug abuse among youth.

Ms. Ziegler, whose career was committed to helping others, was also a devoted community volunteer, donating much of her free time as a grief/bereavement aide for Hospice Care of DC. She received numerous awards, including recognition from OJJDP for exemplary leadership and from the Hospices of the National Capital Region for her outstanding dedication.

A memorial service was held on December 3 at the Office of Justice Programs. During the service, Ms. Ziegler's mother, Cynthia Ziegler of Chatham, NJ, accepted posthumous recognitions of her daughter's professional accomplishments from Greg Dixon, Administrator, Drug-Free Communities Support Program, Office of National Drug Control Policy, and Deborah J. Daniels, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs.