Andrea Mae Stearns

Andrea Mae Stearns

1977 - 2026

Andrea Stearns-public health nurse, humanitarian, and fearless advocate for people often forgotten by the world-passed away in 2026 at the age of 48 after a brief illness.

Andrea lived a life defined by courage, intelligence, and an almost stubborn commitment to compassion. As a public health nurse, she worked on the front lines with people experiencing homelessness, addiction, illness, and profound hardship. She believed deeply that every person deserved dignity and care, and she practiced that belief every day.

Andrea provided wound care, harm-reduction services, advocacy, and support to people who often had nowhere else to turn. She had a rare ability to meet people exactly where they were-with respect, humor, and zero judgment.

But Andrea's work didn't end when her shift did.

She founded Red Dog Collective, a grassroots mutual-aid effort that quietly delivered help wherever it was needed. Andrea partnered with harm-reduction organizations, helped refugees obtain basic necessities like suitcases and clothing, and often brought supplies directly to people living in encampments or under bridges.

Sometimes she arrived in the middle of the night with an urn of hot coffee and hot chocolate. Other times she opened the back of her truck and let people choose what they needed-batteries, electrolytes, socks, or clothes that actually fit.

Andrea believed help should be immediate, practical, and human.

Her loyal 80-pound red-nose pit bull, Anika, was frequently by her side, serving as both companion and unofficial security detail.

Andrea was brilliant and deeply curious. She earned her nursing degree and built a career in public health dedicated to serving vulnerable communities. Colleagues admired her sharp mind and her willingness to go where others hesitated. She was fearless in the presence of suffering and tireless in her efforts to reduce it.

Outside of work, Andrea had a vibrant personality and a sarcastic sense of humor. She loved hip-hop, Mexican food, and traveling to Tulum, Mexico. She enjoyed watching documentaries, searching for the perfect shade of burgundy hair color, and wearing red whenever possible, often paired with her beloved John Fluevog boots.

She also had a fondness for the unusual-particularly striking taxidermy-and a lifelong appreciation for birds and feathers.

Andrea is survived by her loving mother, Tess Stearns; her sister, Anastajah Razatos; her extended family; and a wide circle of friends, colleagues, and community members whose lives she touched through her work and generosity.

Andrea showed us that compassion is not a theory-it is something you do.

She went where others would not go.

She cared for people others overlooked.

And the world is kinder because she was in it.