(03/07/06) SHORT HILLS ? Employees at the Short Hills-based Christopher Reeve Foundation mourned the loss of Dana Reeve Monday after the spinal cord research advocate succumbed to lung cancer.

Representatives of the foundation say Reeve, who died at the age of 44, was a caring and courageous woman. She took over the foundation after her husband died in October of 2004. Those who knew Reeve say she remained positive and carried on her crusade for spinal cord research after finding out she had lung cancer this past August. She did not smoke.

According to workers at the foundation, Reeve leaves behind a legacy that continues to influence people all over the world.