Abstract
We are saddened to learn of the passing of our dear Editorial Board member, colleague, and friend, Grace Paranzino Fortuna, EdD, CHES, FAAOHN. Grace was known to so many of us for her passion and dedication to American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN), the AAOHN Foundation and the profession of occupational and environmental health nursing. It is difficult to truly capture the sense of loss that we are all feeling. Today, we pay tribute to her and the energy she brought to our profession and to our lives.
Grace’s nursing experience included the acute care hospital environment, academia, health care staffing, and the railway. Her areas of focus were quality improvement, adult education, occupational and environmental health nursing, and performance optimization to name just a few. Grace was prolific in the publication of numerous journal articles and presentations demonstrating her expertise and leadership to our profession.
Grace took on an active role in volunteering with AAOHN at the local, state, and national level. She served on the AAOHN Board of Directors and as AAOHN Secretary. She was honored as a Fellow in the AAOHN for her many contributions to occupational and environmental health nursing. She was serving on the Workplace Health & Safety (WH&S) Editorial Board at the time of her death.
We will be forever grateful for her dedication in serving for many years as the AAOHN Foundation Chair. Under her leadership, the Foundation established new grants and scholarships enabling many occupational health nurses (OHNs) the opportunity to further their education and research. The AAOHN Foundation Board would like to announce the creation of a new scholarship to honor Grace’s commitment to the Foundation’s mission of funding professional development and research grants. Details regarding this scholarship will soon be announced. In the meantime if you would like to make a donation, please indicate your donation is in recognition of Grace’s many contributions when your donation is placed.
Grace exemplified life, love, laughter, and an irrepressible drive to support and mentor others. She is now reunited with the love of her life, Dr. Joe Fortuna. Our prayers go out to her family, friends, and many professional colleagues.
On behalf of the AAOHN Foundation Board of Trustees, Executive Director, and myself, we will deeply miss Grace.