Remembering visionary professor and nursing leader Faye Gary

Growing up on a farm in 1940s Ocala, Florida, Faye Gary developed an early understanding that education creates opportunity. Surrounded by deep racism in the Jim Crow South, she committed herself to the pursuit of knowledge, propelled by the conviction that all people, regardless of circumstance, can achieve success.

This philosophy shaped the course of Gary’s career for more than five decades, including 23 years at Case Western Reserve University. When the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) honored her as a Living Legend in 2024, Gary, EdD, RN, urged the audience to share her approach: “Look to the horizon to see what’s not there, what could be there, and how you could make a difference.”

Now, members of the campus community are mourning the longtime Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing faculty member, who died Sunday at the age of 85. Gary, a Distinguished University Professor, served as the Medical Mutual of Ohio Kent W. Clapp Chair and Professor of Nursing and a professor in the Department of Psychiatry. 

Known for a soft-spoken approach paired with fierce determination, Gary was a “beautiful person inside and out,” students, colleagues and community members alike said. She built a reputation as a connector—someone always eager to spark collaborations, inspire new ideas and present opportunities.

“Faye was tireless in her work and seriously determined to help students succeed,” said Dean Emeritus May Wykle, PhD (NUR ’62, ’69; GRS ’81, education), who recruited Gary to the Case Western Reserve faculty in 2003. Along with years of clinical experience, Gary brought with her a strong reputation as a thought leader and researcher in mental health equity. 

Her success in her field—including being named an AAN fellow, producing countless publications and securing grants totaling more than $24 million over the course of her career—has shaped health policy involving child and adolescent mental health, health disparities and domestic violence.

But it was her commitment to students that defined Gary. She not only taught but closely mentored hundreds of Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing students over the years—including one who is now the school’s dean.

“Dr. Gary had a way of making you feel seen,” said Dean Ronald Hickman (CWR '00; NUR '06, '13; GRS '08, nursing). “[Her] legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the doors she opened.” 

One such door involved the creation of Case Western Reserve’s Provost Scholars Program, a visionary partnership offering East Cleveland and Cleveland students academic enrichment through faculty mentorship, student tutoring and on-campus programming. 

“Faye was passionate about the need to help students while they’re in high school to become much more than they could’ve dreamt possible,” Wykle said, recalling how Gary engaged participants’ parents in the program, too. “There were times students took a bus to and from our campus and Faye would ride alongside them to make sure they were dropped off safely at home.” 

Gary’s efforts included recruiting faculty members from across campus to serve as mentors for the students. In 2015, Lee Thompson, PhD (WRC ’82), now deputy provost for academic strategic initiatives, was honored to receive such a call. 

“Faye’s philosophy was that we must provide students with challenges, and then the support they need to successfully meet those challenges,” said Thompson, recalling how Gary created and distributed a handbook about the program for other universities to replicate nationally and internationally. “Her passion—that education is the way out of poverty—was infectious. She really wanted to give every child the opportunity to succeed in the world.”

A mother of four boys herself, Gary’s giving nature was well-known, whether financial—such as fundraising for a program participant’s family whose house burned down—or advisory, often marked by what many called her Southern charm.

“People naturally gravitated toward her and wanted to meet her expectations,” said Carolyn Harmon Still, PhD (GRS ’10, nursing; MGT ’16), assistant dean for research at the nursing school. “Dr. Gary would sit with students for countless hours pouring into individuals to support their scholarship, reviewing dissertations, manuscripts, and scholarship applications line by line.” 

“When preparing students for a public speaking engagement or presentation, her guidance included that undeniable Southern flair and touch,” Still continued, “sweetly directing them to stand tall, shoulders back, no gum, and no fidgeting, cultivating proper technique. Her teaching style was patient and meticulous, fostering confidence and empowering learning.”

Brianna Moore, an East Cleveland native who Gary mentored through the Provost Scholars Program in 2016, was one of the hundreds to benefit from her guidance over the years. 

“It was an honor to be mentored by Dr. Gary,” said Moore, who went on to earn a master’s in social work and now works as a licensed medical social worker with Ohio Health at Home. “She will be truly missed. Her kindness, motivation and encouragement will stick with me forever.” 

Though many slow down as they age, Gary’s dedication to her work never waned, Wykle noted, explaining ‘retirement’ wasn’t a concept she entertained.

“She was still working right up until the day she passed,” said Still, who visited Gary at her bedside. “I’d say, ‘You’re still working!’ and she’d say, ‘You better believe it!’”

That work even included teaching others—and encouraging them to pursue the education that had once changed her life.

“She told her nurses how much she appreciated their work, gave suggestions on approaches, and tried to recruit at least four of them to go back to grad school,” said Still. “When one replied she was too old for a graduate degree, Dr. Gary said, ‘Says who!’”

Such words of encouragement were a constant in her expansive vocabulary.

“I am personally grateful for her counsel, her confidence in me and her friendship,” Hickman said. “So many of us carry stories of her affirming words at pivotal moments.”

Among the most common: “I love you dearly.”

“She made sure to say it to each and every person,” said Still, “and made sure they heard it.”

Details regarding funeral or memorial arrangements will be shared as they become available. Condolences can be mailed to the family at 5810 S. Magnolia Avenue in Ocala, Florida, 34471.

Students who would like support during this time are encouraged to contact University Health and Counseling Services at 216.368.5872 or schedule an appointment online through MyHealthConnect, or access 24/7 online support through TimelyCare. Faculty and staff counseling services are available through AllOne Health, the university’s Employee Assistance Provider, at 800.227.6007 or online.