Elmhurst University has named its nursing and public health department in honor of longtime critical care nurse Diane Tyrrell, who, with her husband, Trustee Emeritus Thomas Tyrrell ’67, have been generous supporters of Elmhurst for nearly 50 years.
The Diane Tyrrell Department of Nursing and Public Health was dedicated during a ceremony in June at the University’s new Health Sciences Building, which is nearing completion and will be ready to welcome students in the fall. The 45,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will be a hub for not only the nursing and public health programs, but also the occupational therapy and communication sciences and disorders programs.
Diane Tyrrell was a critical care nurse for 45 years and was named Nurse of the Year at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in 1988. Her dedication plaque notes that she “served every patient and person in her life with the warmth, kindness and care she wished for herself.”
Thomas Tyrrell joined the Elmhurst University Board of Trustees in 1990 and served until 2011, including as chair from 2002 to 2007, before becoming an emeritus trustee. He is the recipient of an Alumni Merit Award, and in 2007 he was awarded the Founders Medal, which celebrates those who have distinguished themselves through philanthropic or personal service to the University.
In addition to the Health Sciences Building, the Tyrrells have supported a number of areas over the years, including athletics and the Tyrrell Fitness Center, the Annual Fund, student scholarships (including the Diane M. Tyrrell Clinical Nursing Endowed Scholarship Fund) and campus improvement projects. The Tyrrells live in Brecksville, Ohio.
“We are so inspired by how Tom’s love for Diane and his alma mater came together to create this generous gift, which will benefit our students and faculty for years to come,” said President Troy D. VanAken.
The nursing and public health department dedication ceremony, held on June 7, was attended by members of the Tyrrell family, University leaders and trustees. One of the speakers was Trustee Judith Paice ’79, director of the Cancer Pain Program at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. She described the critical role of nurses, who work “across the lifespan, from obstetrics to end of life care,” and how the new Health Sciences Building will ensure that the education and preparation of Elmhurst’s “extraordinary nurses” continues.
“Our nursing students leave with superb technical skills, and the liberal arts background they obtain here provides them with a broader world view that strengthens their ability to interact with diverse groups of people, and deepens their empathy for others,” she said. “This new building will be an incubator and a home for continuing and new nursing students at Elmhurst. So with great gratitude to all who have made this happen, thank you on behalf of all of our students and, ultimately, the people they will serve.”