AORN founding member passes away - Obituary

AORN Journal,  Nov, 2002  

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Frances Eleanor Reeser, RN, a founding member of AORN, passed away in July 2002 in West Virginia. Reeser, 86, was one of the 17 nurses who began discussions in 1948 about starting a nursing organization, which ultimately became AORN. She was a member of the local conference committee that organized AORN's first national conference, which was held in February 1954 in New York.

In 1957, Reeser, along with 54 other delegates, voted to officially form AORN, approved a constitution and bylaws, and elected national officers. She served as the Association's vice president from 1958 to 1962. During this time, membership grew from 2,432 to 4,021, and the Association began publishing OR Nursing, the precursor to the AORN Journal.

Reeser served as a professional nurse in Huntington, WVa; Washington, DC; and the Bronx, NY. The last 28 years of her career were spent as OR supervisor at Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Bronx. During this time, she oversaw the modernization of ORs in five other New York hospitals.

The AORN Board of Directors and staff members express their sincere condolences to Reeser's family members and to those who worked closely with her during her long career. She will be missed deeply.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group