By Nicole Hamilton
The Cincinnati Enquirer

"Let no one come to you without leaving better and happier." - Mother Teresa.

This quote reminds Amie Marks of her friend, Barbara Conry-Dressman.

"Those fortunate to have known Barbara in her significant, albeit short life, understood what she meant," said Ms. Marks of Chicago.

Barbara Conry-Dressman, vice president of public relations for HSR Business to Business in Sharonville, died Thursday in a car accident that also killed two colleagues.

The Mount Lookout resident was 31.

"She was a person to look up to. She's the whole picture," said Ms. Marks.

Born and raised in Omaha, Neb., Ms. Conry-Dressman earned a bachelor's degree in international relations and French from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill., in 1993. During her undergraduate education, she studied in Paris and at American University in Washington, D.C.

After college, she moved to Washington and began a career as a foreign policy analyst with the Cato Institute, while simultaneously earning a master's in national security from Georgetown University. She graduated from Georgetown in 1997.

It was in Washington that she met Cincinnati native Scott Dressman.

The two were engaged on the steps of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and married - in Cincinnati - in 1998.

Her career flourished as she moved into the field of public relations. Ms. Conry-Dressman specialized in corporate communications and worked for firms like Porter Novelli New York, Porter Novelli Chicago and HSR.

She and her husband also volunteered their time to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Cincinnati.

In addition to having a little brother through the organization, they inspired friends and family across the country to take part in the organization in their respective hometowns.

An accomplished vocalist and saxophone player, Ms. Conry-Dressman's appreciation of the arts - along with her thirst for learning about all people and places - took her and her husband around the world.

Besides her husband, survivors include her mother and stepfather, Cheryl and Rod Marshall of Valley, Neb.; her father, John Conry of Omaha; a brother, Joe Conry of Omaha; grandparents Paul and Barbara Kistler of Las Vegas; grandparents Jack and Dorothy Conry of Omaha; and great-grandmother Hazel Gish of Omaha.

Visitation is from 3:30-6:30 p.m. today at George H. Rohde & Son Funeral Home, 3183 Linwood Ave., Mount Lookout. Mass of Christian burial will begin at 7 p.m. today at Christ the King Church, 3223 Linwood Ave., Mount Lookout.

Memorials: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cincinnati, 2400 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45202; or to Lake Forest College, Development Office, 555 North Sheridan Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045.