We will miss you forever crazy Judith! Your love, your wit, your LOUD and unique voice. Your stories, your passion, your irreverence, your opinions. Thank you for teaching us more about self love and respect, and less about all that we could allow to hold us back. Thank you for LIVING, and for finding your fire...RIP you LOVEY LOVEY LOVEY...
Judith Ann Kiernan
1937 - 2015
11/19/1937 ~ 7/28/2015
Judith Ann Kiernan, Ph.D., R.N., was fabulous - FAB-U-LOUS! She was a critical
thinker, a hoot, loud, hysterical, irritating, brilliant, and above all a
loving character who rarely filtered what she said and always wore her heart on
her sleeve. Born to Eunice Warner Kiernan and Vincent Owen Kiernan in South
Weymouth, MA on November 19, 1937, Judy was always lively and social. A
cheerleader at Hanover High School, she excelled academically, and graduated in
1955. In the fall of that year, she started nurses' training at Mass. Memorial
hospital. After completing her 3 year nursing degree, Judy began to work at
Mass General Hospital as a nurse while she completed her BA in Nursing from
Boston University's College of Nursing. Never satisfied academically, Judy
drove her little Spitfire from Massachusetts to Colorado to pursue her Masters
of Science from the University of Colorado. After receiving her M.S., Judy
joined the faculty at the University of Colorado in the College of Nursing.
Always eager to help others, in 1969 Judy contributed to the war effort by offering
her specialized skills in nursing, teaching and administration. The US Agency
for International Development hired Judy and sent her to Washington, D.C. for 6
months of training in Vietnamese culture and language at the Defense Language
Institute before ultimately sending her to Vietnam. As Director of Nursing for
hospitals in both Saigon and Can Tho, Judy spent 18 months training local
Vietnamese nurses.
Returning from Vietnam, Judy was hired as the Director of Nursing at University
Hospital in Boston where she worked until moving to Utah in 1974. Why Utah?
Judy loved the great outdoors and this was the perfect place for the consummate
skier and tennis player. Always highly competitive, Judy once challenged her
three adult, but younger brothers to a tennis match; all three of them on one
side against only Judy on the other. She won. And never let them forget it!
Judy later accepted a faculty position as Assistant Dean for Community Service
and Faculty Practice at the University of Utah College of Nursing. In October
of 1986, she accepted the University's offer to be Director of Nursing for
Medical/Surgical and Rehabilitation at the Health Sciences Center. Relentless
in her pursuit of education and knowledge, Judy then pursued her doctoral
degree. She earned her PhD in Health Service Administration in 1992 from the
University of Utah. Yes! She was now DOCTOR Judy Kiernan!
Dr. Kiernan was presented the 1995 Administration Award by the Utah Nursing
Association, an award given annually to an individual who demonstrates
excellence in nursing service administration, including skills in management,
decision making and dedication to continually improving the nursing profession.
That was definitely Judy! After many years of tireless effort as nursing
director and faculty member, Dr. Kiernan retired in 1996 to pursue a leisurely
life that allowed her to travel, garden, ski, read, see independent films, and
play tennis. Ever the social creature, she was the ultimate hostess throwing
extravagant parties with gourmet meals. She wasn't totally able to leave her
profession, however; when asked to help, Dr. Kiernan gladly returned to nursing
when she joined Community Nursing Services as a patient care coordinator and
worked with them and Summit Home Health Care for a number of years.
Dr. Judy Kiernan was not only accomplished, she was exceptionally funny with a
sharp wit. She loved people and animals and had a very strong emotional bond
with her own cats, dogs, and birds. She was generous with her time, her
expertise, her opinions and her heart. She had a compassionate spirit, strong
voice, and stronger personality. She was an advocate for women and women's
issues and always up on the latest political concerns. She had a thirst for
knowledge and enjoyed a good debate. But ultimately Judy had love: love for
others, love for animals, love for diversity and social justice, love for good
food and travel, love for the right outfit and matching jewelry, and especially
love for family.
Judy is survived by her brothers Thomas F. Kiernan, Hudson, FL; Vincent O.
Kiernan, East Falmouth, MA; Steven L. Kiernan, Milton, MA and her sister, Susan
Kiernan Farrell, Phoenix, AZ. She has 9 nephews and nieces who adore her and 8
great-nephews and great-nieces who will hear stories about their intelligent
and wonderfully crazy Aunt JuJu for years to come. If you didn't know Judy
Kiernan, you missed out.
Judith Ann Kiernan
1937 - 2015 |
Obituary
|
Condolences
11/19/1937 ~ 7/28/2015
Judith Ann Kiernan, Ph.D., R.N., was
fabulous - FAB-U-LOUS! She was a critical thinker, a hoot, loud,
hysterical, irritating, brilliant, and above all a loving character who
rarely filtered what she said and always wore her heart on her sleeve.
Born to Eunice Warner Kiernan and Vincent Owen Kiernan in South
Weymouth, MA on November 19, 1937, Judy was always lively and social. A
cheerleader at Hanover High School, she excelled academically, and
graduated in 1955. In the fall of that year, she started nurses'
training at Mass. Memorial hospital. After completing her 3 year nursing
degree, Judy began to work at Mass General Hospital as a nurse while
she completed her BA in Nursing from Boston University's College of
Nursing. Never satisfied academically, Judy drove her little Spitfire
from Massachusetts to Colorado to pursue her Masters of Science from the
University of Colorado. After receiving her M.S., Judy joined the
faculty at the University of Colorado in the College of Nursing.
Always
eager to help others, in 1969 Judy contributed to the war effort by
offering her specialized skills in nursing, teaching and administration.
The US Agency for International Development hired Judy and sent her to
Washington, D.C. for 6 months of training in Vietnamese culture and
language at the Defense Language Institute before ultimately sending her
to Vietnam. As Director of Nursing for hospitals in both Saigon and Can
Tho, Judy spent 18 months training local Vietnamese nurses.
Returning
from Vietnam, Judy was hired as the Director of Nursing at University
Hospital in Boston where she worked until moving to Utah in 1974. Why
Utah? Judy loved the great outdoors and this was the perfect place for
the consummate skier and tennis player. Always highly competitive, Judy
once challenged her three adult, but younger brothers to a tennis match;
all three of them on one side against only Judy on the other. She won.
And never let them forget it!
Judy later accepted a faculty position
as Assistant Dean for Community Service and Faculty Practice at the
University of Utah College of Nursing. In October of 1986, she accepted
the University's offer to be Director of Nursing for Medical/Surgical
and Rehabilitation at the Health Sciences Center. Relentless in her
pursuit of education and knowledge, Judy then pursued her doctoral
degree. She earned her PhD in Health Service Administration in 1992 from
the University of Utah. Yes! She was now DOCTOR Judy Kiernan!
Dr.
Kiernan was presented the 1995 Administration Award by the Utah Nursing
Association, an award given annually to an individual who demonstrates
excellence in nursing service administration, including skills in
management, decision making and dedication to continually improving the
nursing profession. That was definitely Judy! After many years of
tireless effort as nursing director and faculty member, Dr. Kiernan
retired in 1996 to pursue a leisurely life that allowed her to travel,
garden, ski, read, see independent films, and play tennis. Ever the
social creature, she was the ultimate hostess throwing extravagant
parties with gourmet meals. She wasn't totally able to leave her
profession, however; when asked to help, Dr. Kiernan gladly returned to
nursing when she joined Community Nursing Services as a patient care
coordinator and worked with them and Summit Home Health Care for a
number of years.
Dr. Judy Kiernan was not only accomplished, she was
exceptionally funny with a sharp wit. She loved people and animals and
had a very strong emotional bond with her own cats, dogs, and birds. She
was generous with her time, her expertise, her opinions and her heart.
She had a compassionate spirit, strong voice, and stronger personality.
She was an advocate for women and women's issues and always up on the
latest political concerns. She had a thirst for knowledge and enjoyed a
good debate. But ultimately Judy had love: love for others, love for
animals, love for diversity and social justice, love for good food and
travel, love for the right outfit and matching jewelry, and especially
love for family.
Judy is survived by her brothers Thomas F. Kiernan,
Hudson, FL; Vincent O. Kiernan, East Falmouth, MA; Steven L. Kiernan,
Milton, MA and her sister, Susan Kiernan Farrell, Phoenix, AZ. She has 9
nephews and nieces who adore her and 8 great-nephews and great-nieces
who will hear stories about their intelligent and wonderfully crazy Aunt
JuJu for years to come. If you didn't know Judy Kiernan, you missed
out.
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/saltlaketribune/obituary.aspx?pid=175462202#sthash.jTRnKX3x.dpuf
