Helen Spencer, a psychologist at the West Haven Veterans Administration hospital, died on Sunday, May 8th, at the age of 64. She is survived by two children, Kathleen Spencer of Burbank, CA and Christopher Spencer of Philadelphia, PA. Her death, at Yale New Haven Hospital, was the result of complications arising from ovarian cancer, which she had been battling against for two years. At the Veteran's Administration, Helen was the Assistant Director of Program Evaluation for out-patient PTSD treatment centers across the country. In her capacity as statistician for NEPEC (the Northeast Program Evaluation Center,) Helen co-authored each annual report to the U.S. Congress on the status of the mental health of veterans, 'The Long Journey Home.' Through this work she helped countless veterans in their struggle with PTSD and related mental illness. Before her appointment to that position, Helen worked as a clinical psychologist with the in-patient veterans at the West Haven VA. Helen was born in Hammond, IN on October 21, 1946 to the late Lloyd and Delphia Minter Holsclaw. A graduate of Grinnell College in Iowa, she moved to New Haven in 1972, and, after starting a family, received her Masters in Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University and soon began working at the VA Hospital, where she worked for over 25 years until the time of her death. A devoted single mother, Helen worked tirelessly to support her children in their academic and professional careers. Well-loved by neighbors and coworkers, she cared deeply for the friends she made throughout her life and maintained those friendships across long distances. Helen's knowledge was encyclopedic, but she was quick to laugh and possessed a refined sense of humor. She was a devoted environmentalist who loved fishing, hiking and camping, and was a talented gardener, seamstress, and cook. She cared passionately about social justice, equality, and progressive issues, and saw her work at the VA as an extension of those concerns. She loved to travel, touring Europe in her youth, as well as visiting Italy and Australia with her children. Everyone whose lives she touched misses her terribly. Friends are invited to a Graveside Service on Thursday, May 12th at 12 Noon in East Side Cemetery, 125 South Pease Road, Woodbridge. BEECHER & BENNETT- TAYLOR FUNERAL HOME, 410 Campbell Ave., West Haven in care of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, we would ask that donations in Helen's memory be sent to the Sierra Club National Headquarters, 85 Second St., 2nd floor, San Francisco, CA 94105 sierraclub.com