Eva Erickson 1912-2003

ERICKSON, BACKMAN

Posted By: Marguerite (email)
Date: 2/20/2003 at 13:43:19

IOWA CITY dateline

Iowa City Press Citizen
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Daily Iowan
Waukegan News Sun

Eva Erickson, 90, of 1413 Ash Street in Iowa City, died Sunday, February 9, 2003, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a short illness.

Eva chose to be cremated. A celebration of Eva’s life will be held Saturday, February 22nd from
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service in Iowa City. Private burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Crystal Falls, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to The Eva Erickson Fellowship Fund at The University of Iowa Foundation, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, Iowa, 52244-4550.

Eva was born April 27, 1912, in Ishpeming, Michigan, the daughter of Ilmari “Elmer” & Hilma (Backman) Erickson. She graduated from Waukegan Township High School in Waukegan, Illinois, in 1929. Eva then received a diploma from Michael Reese Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago in 1933; a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education from Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City in 1939; a Master of Science in Hospital Administration from Northwestern University in Chicago in 1947; a professional diploma in Nursing Service Administration from Teachers College at Columbia University in 1962 and a Doctor of Education, also from Columbia University in 1972.

Eva’s professional career commenced as Head Nurse at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago from September 1933 – September 1934; instructor and acting Assistant Principal in the School of Nursing at Rockland State Hospital in Orangeburg, New York from February 1935 – February 1938; Assistant Principal in the Schools of Nursing at Buffalo State Hospital in Buffalo and at Pilgrim State Hospital in Brentwood, New York, February 1938 – September 1939; Director of Nursing and Director of School of Nursing at Galesburg Cottage Hospital in Galesburg, Illinois, October 1939 – August 1944 and as Administrator, from October 1942 to February 1946 and June 1949 – January 1954,as Administrator at Olean General Hospital in Olean, New York, February 1947 – June 1949; Administrator at Children’s Orthopedic Hospital in Seattle, Washington, February 1954 – February 1960; Director of Nursing at Bishop Clarkson Memorial Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, June 1960 – September 1961; Associate Professor in the College of Nursing at The University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa from 1962 – 1972 and then serving as Professor, August 1972, until her retirement in August 1977. She continued her professional and personal interests, since retirement, through travels and correspondence and wore out her computer by steadfastly maintaining contact with nearly all of her army of students from the Graduate College of Nursing and with a lifetime of friends and colleagues, right up until her admittance to Mercy Hospital.

Eva authored many publications relating to nursing and hospital administration throughout her career. She received many honors, including the Malcolm T. MacEachern Award from Northwestern University in 1947 and was designated a Fellow with The American College of Hospital Administrators in 1955. Eva was also a member of Sigma Theta Tau National Nursing Honor Society.

She is survived by two nephews, Jim Erickson of Iowa City and Donald Erickson of Park City, Illinois, a niece, Linda Sanchez and her husband Juventeno “Sandy” of Chicago; one great nephew, two great nieces, one great great nephew, and sisters-in-law, Sylvia Erickson of Chicago and Jean Erickson of Crystal Falls.

Eva was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.