 Cheryl H. Agris, Ph.D., a distinguished patent attorney, arbitrator, mediator and scientist, and devoted outdoorswoman, passed away on April 26, 2026, after suffering a heat stroke while hiking in Big Bend National Park. She leaves behind a legacy defined by intellectual rigor, professional leadership, and a deep affection for her family and nature. Dr. Agris, a native of Virginia, earned her B.A. in Chemistry from Goucher College in 1979, followed by a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Johns Hopkins University in 1986. She continued her scientific work as a Research Fellow at the Sloan Kettering Institute in New York from 1986 to 1988. She published ground-breaking results in prominent scientific journals both as a graduate student and as a postdoctoral fellow. She earned her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School at night while working first as a law clerk and later as a Patent Agent at Pennie & Edmonds, in New York City. She became a registered Patent Agent before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 1990, a member of the New Jersey Bar in 1992 and of the New York Bar in 1993. She later worked as a patent attorney in the legal department of Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where she helped shape patent strategy in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. At the time of her passing, Dr. Agris was a partner of 14 years at Agris & von Natzmer, LLP, where she focused on biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and chemical inventions in her patent practice. While continuing her work in patent law, she built a strong practice in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), arbitrating and mediating hundreds of cases during the years. Dr. Agris served on multiple panels including the American Arbitration Association and various intellectual property and commercial dispute panels. She was valued for her fairness, deep subject‑matter expertise, and calm, thoughtful approach to resolving conflicts. Dr. Agris was also widely published in articles on intellectual property, contributing to leading journals such as Nature Biotechnology, and she was a frequent lecturer for continuing legal education programs on patent law, claim drafting, and international filing strategy. She was the principal author of the Practitioner’s Manual of Patent Examining Procedure which interprets and annotates the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedure with insights gained over years of practice by her and her co-authors. She spoke at major conferences—including BIO ’96, BIO ’98, and numerous professional associations—and served in leadership roles in the American Intellectual Property Law Association, and other organizations. She also taught for the Practicing Law Institute’s Patent Prosecution Workshop, mentoring new attorneys. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Cheryl found joy and renewal in cultural and outdoor activities, enjoying concerts, museums, botanical gardens and natural landscapes wherever she went, in every season. Becoming an Adirondack Forty-sixer was one of her proudest accomplishments. Cheryl was unpretentious and preferred simple over fancy, but her favorite trip was a recent expedition cruise to Antarctica via the Falkland Islands and South Georgia Island. Her adventurous spirit, curiosity, and appreciation for culture and nature balanced her intense intellectual life and grounded her in what she cherished most. Cheryl is survived by her husband, Richard, and their son, Max. She will be remembered by her family, friends, colleagues, and the many professionals that had the pleasure of working with her as a woman of exceptional intellect, generosity, and warmth—someone who brought insight, integrity, and compassion to every part of her life. Her husband and son remember her as being devoted in addition to all her other qualities.
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