Nancy P. Fawcett

The family and friends of Nancy P. Fawcett, M.D. celebrate her wonderful life while grieving her passing on September 16, 2016 at the age of 85 at her residence in Pembroke Pines. Dr. Fawcett was a board-certified pediatrician who spent 52 years caring for children at Holtz Children's Hospital at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center as Professor of Pediatrics. Demonstrating an indefatigable work ethic, she was one of the longest-tenured professors at the university. She was career-dedicated to excellence in every aspect of academic medicine and a consummate teacher. Described by her University of Miami colleagues as a "Pioneer, Legend and Pediatrician Extraordinaire", it is estimated that Dr. Fawcett taught 7,000 students and 1,000 medical school residents during her career. After she retired, she continued to volunteer at the pediatric clinic and emergency room as Professor Emeritus. Her lifelong ambition was to give all children the opportunity to live healthy lives by providing her own stellar medical care as well as teaching medical residents and students to do the same. She helped to establish a well-child clinic and poison control center at Jackson Memorial Hospital (JMH). Dr. Fawcett was Medical Director for the pediatric Comprehensive Health Care Program at JMH/UM from 1979 until her retirement in 2012. She was a long-term member and past President of the Greater Miami Pediatric Society and frequently gave presentations at the Masters of Pediatrics conferences held in Miami. She was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society where members "exemplify the highest ideals and standards in the profession of medicine." Dr. Fawcett profoundly influenced pediatric health care in South Florida. Dr. Fawcett was born in Guilford County, N.C. on February 13, 1931 to tobacco farmers. She was the valedictorian of her high school class, played basketball and was actively involved with 4-H activities including showing prize cattle. She lived in Germany for six months in 1952 as part of the International Farm Youth Exchange. She graduated from Women's College, University of N.C at Greensboro and the University of N.C. at Chapel Hill Medical School where she was one of only three female students. She completed her pediatric residency at Buffalo Children's Hospital in New York and Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Dr. Fawcett, as a third-year medical resident, came to live in Miami with her devoted husband, Jack, in 1960 after he became enthralled with south Florida while on Spring Break in the 1950's. She fell in love with all aspects of Floridian life. She particularly enjoyed the Florida Keys where she had a beachside weekend home. She loved looking at tropical fish on the coral reefs, picking up marine debris along the beach, working on her shell garden, visiting with neighbors and fishing and catching lobsters with her family. Her hobbies included reading, bird-watching, going to the movies, listening to music, attending cultural events and concerts, exploring museums, tending to her flowering plants and working on her lawn and pool. She was especially fond of watching sunsets. She enjoyed travelling in her later years, visiting Alaska, the western National Parks, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, the Canadian Rockies and the Caribbean. She experienced a "trip of a lifetime" when she visited the Holy Lands last year touring Italy, Greece, Israel, Turkey and Malta taking her sister and daughter to continue the pilgrimage of her mother in 1965. Dr. Fawcett is survived by her loving children, son, David (Kim) of Jupiter, daughter, Jane (Stephen Attis) of Pompano Beach, brother, Estine Pritchett (Judy) of McLeansville, N.C. , sister, Mitzi Draper of Raleigh, N.C, sister-in-law, Nancy Stebbins (Richard) of Kissimmee, cherished grandchildren Caitlin Gill (Jos) of Jensen Beach and Griffin (Charlotte Gardner) of Jupiter and nieces and nephews (Cindy, Jeff, Jon, Mark, Timothy, Matthew, Andrew, & Sandy). She is predeceased by her husband, Jack, her parents Linzen and Nannie, and her sister, Iris P. Sexton. Dr. Fawcett will be cremated and a private Memorial Service will be held later. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to the Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.