The community is grieving the loss of Colleen Conway-Welch.
She was once the head of the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and helped transform the program into a nationally recognized institution.
She served in that position from 1984 until 2013. The former dean died Friday morning.
Conway-Welch was 74 years old.
The Community Foundation released the following statement:
"Colleen Conway-Welch lived life to the fullest, even long after her diagnosis with pancreatic cancer. She was strong; she was committed; she knew what was important and how to get it done.
In the last year, Colleen chose to dedicate her energies, in part, to a program within The Women’s Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee called ’Women Will.' Colleen knew that women could make a huge difference to this community during their lives and in their estate plans. She wrote: 'In my will, I have the opportunity to leave my things to charity, and I have carried through with making sure the gift I made so long ago will help Tennessee women and girls in need.' She loved the fact that gifts of real estate, cash, stock, and personal property like jewelry could expand her capacity to help. She believed that “there but for the Grace of God go I.” And she relished the fact that with The Community Foundation, she could call the shots, her options were endless, and her intentions would always be protected.
We’ve lost a good 'un. Colleen will certainly be missed."
