In Memorium
The College of Nursing mourns the passing of these Gator Nurse alumni.
Paula Dailey Jones (BSN 1983), 61, of Moore, South Carolina, passed away Jan. 6, 2022, after a courageous battle with ALS. Paula worked as a nurse in several settings, including the Department of Health and Environmental Control home nursing, family practice, cardiology, pediatrics, and OB/GYN. She retired from Holly Tree Family Practice in 2020 after more than 15 years as a family practice nurse.
Charlotte Ross Tennant (Degreed 1952), 88, of Tampa, Florida, passed away Jan. 24, 2022. Charlotte was a nurse, Gator fan and loved helping people.
Janice “Jan” Bennetta Burdette Hess (MSN 1984, DNP 2010), 75, of Deland, Florida, passed away Jan. 29, 2022. Jan was a pioneer in the nurse practitioner field, graduating at the top of her class in the DNP program. She was an active member of the Florida Nurses Association, serving at every level from local district to president to the board of directors. She was inducted into the FNA Hall of Fame in 2021.
Marcia Ann Zuzul (BSN 1991), 61, of Statesville, North Carolina, passed away Feb. 1, 2022. Marcia also attended Wake Forest Baptist nursing anesthesia program and received her Doctor in Nursing Practice degree from Duke University. She worked for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Salisbury while her health allowed.
Joan Helen Milligan Rapp (MSN 1989), 85, of Altamonte Springs, Florida, passed away Feb. 18, 2022. Joan was a consummate professional and leader in her field, having worked as a head nurse, program manager, nurse educator and case manager.
Lucilla “Luci” Faye Collinsworth Strickland (Post-Master’s Certificate 2010), 58, of Madison, Florida, passed away Feb. 23, 2022. Luci earned her bachelor’s and two master’s degrees before receiving her Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Post-Master’s Certificate from the University of Florida in 2010 to become an acute care nurse practitioner. From the beginning of her career in 1983, she devoted herself to the care of her community, serving in four nearby health care facilities. Since 2003, she served at Madison County Memorial Hospital, where she made it her mission to grow a relationship with her patients.
Linda Kassel Perkel (BSN 1963), 80, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, passed away April 24, 2022. Linda spent numerous years in nursing administration at Mount Sinai Hospital, Miami Beach. Later, she taught nursing at Barry University in Miami Shores, where she also earned a PhD in nursing, and then served as associate dean. After 20 years at Barry, she retired to North Carolina. In her semi-retirement, she continued her dedication to nursing, teaching online for Walden University.
