Marian Doreen McGee

Marian McGee, Professor Emeritus, former Director of the School of Nursing and Associate Dean of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, passed away in her home surrounded by loved ones on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at the age of 92. Born on May 9, 1931, she was predeceased by her parents, Fenton and Mary (née Barnett) McGee, sisters Marilyn (Bill Kane), Donna (Mike McMillan) and brothers Ron (Jean) and Bob (Grace). She will be missed by her sister Eleanor (George Hamilton) and her many nieces, nephews, great (and great-great) nieces and nephews. Also left to mourn her passing is Paul Newey (Sabrina), whom she considered a surrogate son.

Marian came a long way from the farm and one-room schoolhouse outside of Fergus, Ontario, where she was raised. She struck out on her own with attestations of good character from the local pastor “capable, ambitious, dependable” in 1950; received a diploma in Nursing from the Kitchener-Waterloo Hospital in 1953; and ventured further with a new batch of character references, “young woman of good character and a true, sincere nurse” (local minister) and “happiest when she has a challenge” (Director of Nursing Education, KW Hospital).

Marian challenged herself throughout her life. She was the first in her family to attend university, graduating from Queen’s University in 1955 with a Certificate in Public Health Nursing and again in 1966 with a Bachelor of Nursing Science. She left Canada to pursue graduate education at Johns Hopkins University with $35 in her pocket and ultimately earned a Doctorate of Public Health. As Marian said, “it takes 17 years when you have to work your way through.” Her experiences practicing public health nursing in inner-city Baltimore were formative. Her years on faculty at the University of Western Ontario yielded enduring friendships and her time in administration at the University of Ottawa was simultaneously intense and rewarding. The fact that the Health Sciences Division included both Medicine and Nursing challenged her diplomacy skills!

As a counterpoint to her professional life, Marian was a gifted wood carver and turner. These two worlds of Marian’s come together each year in the form of the University of Ottawa School of Nursing’s Marian McGee Award. The doctoral student award consists of a turned object. Initially, Marian created the wooden bowl or vase herself. When she could no longer use her lathe, she solved the problem with an ingenious solution - she enlisted the Ottawa Valley Woodturners Club (of which she was a long-standing member). The Club now runs an annual competition to produce the next McGee award.

“McGee” to some; and “great Marian” to others, Marian was a passionate advocate for nursing, public health, her students, her family and friends. In her own fierce way, she listened, questioned, and perhaps expressed an opinion or two. A gifted mentor, she paid attention, listening and sharing stories in ways that supported and lifted up those whose lives she touched.

Friends and family may gather from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 25, 2024 at McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home and Chapel, 1411 Hunt Club Road, Ottawa, ON, a celebration of life will be held in the chapel at 2:00 pm, her service may also me viewed live at https://fweb.tv/126008 A reception will follow. Private inurnment in Guelph to be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Marian’s memory may be made to the University of Ottawa’s School of Nursing (http://www.uottawa.ca/giving , choose Designate my gift to “other designation” and specify: “School of Nursing - HS125N” or the Canadian Council of the Blind (https://ccbnational.net/donate/).