Connie’s family has set up this scholarship fund to aid future nurses just like Connie who are fortunate enough to attend the University of Florida College of Nursing. Connie was an outstanding nurse and an even better wife, daughter, mother and friend. Her caring personality led her to the medical field and to the University of Florida in 1971. She then proudly graduated with her nursing degree in 1975 and went on to work at Shand’s Hospital in Gainesville. She started her nursing career in the NICU, which was very rewarding but also very difficult at the same time. She often would see her preemie patients more than the new parents could, however, there wasn’t a better person to be sitting with sick newborns than Connie.

While attending the University of Florida, she met her husband Dan. After Dan graduated from UF with a degree in Construction, they married in Gainesville and moved to the Palm Harbor/Dunedin area in Florida. Connie then became a pediatric nurse at Clearwater Pediatrics, where she was a nurse for almost 20 years. She loved taking care of kids, pets, her family, you name it, she was willing to care for anyone or anything. Her daughter, Jessica, was born in 1980 and Connie continued her nursing career while being the best mother anyone could ask for. Connie and family have been Florida Gator football season ticket holders for over 30 years. They have an abundance of wonderful memories together in Gainesville and it will always be their special place.

We certainly hope the funds raised in Connie’s honor will continue to provide needed assistance to future Gators in order to further their education and that they themselves will bring their families back to Gainesville for many years to come.