In Memoriam – Spring 2023
The College of Nursing mourns the passing of these Gator Nurse alumni.
Mary Edwards Ulrey (BSN 1974), 71, of Tampa, Florida, passed away Jan. 10, 2023. Mary became a nurse practitioner and held highly regarded executive in leadership roles at Tampa General Hospital, Charter Hospital and DACCO Behavioral Health. She was influential statewide in the treatment of substance abuse and behavioral health issues, including her appointment by the attorney general to the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse.
Martha Schwab Maddox (MSN 1971), 85, of Newnan, Georgia, passed away Nov. 21, 2022. Martha spent the majority of her career as a nursing faculty member at Georgia Southwestern University. She played a pivotal role in establishing the BSN program at the university and was department chair for many years.
Frances B. Smith (MSN 1969), 80, of Orlando, Florida, passed away Oct. 12, 2022. She served on the nursing faculties of Duke University, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Valencia College and the University of Central Florida. During her tenure at UCF, Smith was the interim director of the nursing program, served on the faculty senate, was coordinator of the psychiatric nursing and honors programs and was instrumental in developing new programs and campuses. She received several accolades for her teaching excellence, most notably, the Florida Nurses Association Outstanding Educator Award.
Mavis F. Tracy (BSN 1970), 73, of Lutz, Florida, passed away April 1, 2022.
Grace V. Hemmes (MSN 1989), 85, of Gainesville, Florida, passed away June 12, 2021. Grace was a longtime member of the Fighting Gators Touchdown Club.
Jacqueline “Jackie” Louise Smith Tornoe (BSN 1962), 87, of Green Isle, Minnesota, passed away March 4, 2021. After her graduation from the UF College of Nursing, Jackie worked as a nurse, then raised three children before returning to earn her master’s degree at the University of Minnesota and entering the emerging field of certified nurse-midwifery at the age of 52.
Alice “Yvonne” Vernon (MSN 1969), 88, of Weatherford, Texas, passed away Oct. 9, 2017. Vernon taught nursing at numerous universities across the country, including the University of Texas at Arlington, Tarleton State University at Stephenville, Cameron University at Lawton and Murray State College in Tishomingo. Additionally, she served as a nurse at many hospitals.
Helen “Mae” Arensman (MSN 1964), 94, of Evansville, Indiana, passed away Nov. 2, 2015. Mae served as a flight evacuation nurse in the U.S. Army Air Corps in both the European and Asian-Pacific theaters during World War II. She then taught obstetrical nursing at St. Mary’s Hospital and the University of Evansville.
Connie Mae W. Cole (BSN 1991), 84, of Savannah, Tennessee, passed away Sept. 7, 2014.
Dorothy Will Wise (BSN 1966), 87, of Panama City, Florida, and Georgiana, Alabama, passed away Sept. 27, 2012.
Janie B. Spelton (BSN 1972, MSN 1976), 54, of Cocoa Beach, Florida, passed away April 20, 2005.
