Remembering Gloria Henderson
Remembering Gloria Henderson Heading link
UIC College of Nursing professor emerita Gloria Henderson, MSN ’70, who helped set up four of UIC Nursing’s campuses across the state of Illinois, died last month at her home in the Chicago suburb of Naperville. She was 94.
Henderson, who was asked to join the faculty at UIC Nursing before she even graduated from the master’s degree program in 1970, worked at UIC Nursing for more than 25 years before she retired in 1996.
She was a beloved teacher, receiving a number of Golden Apple Awards, which are teaching excellence awards voted on by the students. She also helped UIC Nursing spread across the state of Illinois by setting up campuses in Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford and Urbana.
Dean emerita Mi Ja Kim, PhD, RN, FRCN, FAAN, recalls that Henderson served as coordinator of the campuses outside of Chicago.
“Her attentive ears and caring services to the regional programs helped [college administrators] to meet their needs in a timely manner and to promote excellent education to students in the regions,” Kim says. “UIC Nursing has benefitted from her dedicated service as a faculty member and able administrator. I salute her leadership.”
Henderson, a Chicago native, decided she wanted to become a nurse after contracting scarlet fever and being cared for by a nurse at age 6. She graduated as valedictorian of her 1947 class at Fenger High School on the far South Side, and her parents encouraged her to go to college, even though it was not common for women to get a college degree at that time. She got her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Elmhurst College where she met her husband, Dale Henderson.
She decided to return to school to get her master’s in nursing so she could teach future nurses. Professor Judith Schlaeger, PhD, MS ’88, BSN ’80, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, remembers Henderson’s instruction and her character.
“Gloria taught me Fundamentals of Nursing the first year of my BSN program,” Schlaeger says. “She was devoted to her students and was beloved by students and faculty alike. She is and will be remembered for her kindness and compassion.”
Henderson was part of group invited to Iran to help build a nursing program there in 1977. She was also active on the UIC Nursing Alumni Board, serving in leadership roles, and she established a scholarship in 1994 that is given out annually.
After retirement, Henderson served as parish nurse of Alleluia Lutheran Church in Naperville, fulfilled a childhood wish of buying a horse, traveled, and supported her children and grandchildren by faithfully attending their activities. She is survived by her husband of 72 years, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.