Jean C. Smith

Jean C. (Campbell) Smith, 91, of Manchester passed away on October 28, 2014. Born August 2, 1923 in Mountain View, New Jersey, daughter of the late Herbert and Edith (Peterson) Campbell, Jr.
Jean grew up in New Jersey. While working as a secretary for Irving Trust Company in 1943, Jean joined the United States Navy Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II. The Corps funded her nursing education at Cornell University where she graduated in 1946. Her love of children evident, her education focused on advanced pediatrics at the University of Chicago. She continued at Syracuse University, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education. While at Syracuse, she met her husband of 64 years with whom she raised three children. In 1959, she and her family settled in Manchester with daughter, Cynthia born in 1962.
In 1970, friend, Linda Platz suggested Jean apply to an ad from the University of Connecticut for a Certificate Pediatric Nurse Associate program. She graduated in 1971 working as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at the Pediatric Ambulatory Care Center at Hartford Hospital for 23 years caring for children as their primary care provider under the supervision of a physician. In 1972, the Hartford Courant published an article entitled, "The Doctor may be a Nurse," on Jean and the group of 21 nurses who were part of this early training for advance practice nurses. Jean was highly dedicated for many years to the nursing profession and was very involved in the care of her patients from infancy to teen age years. She actively advocated for children and their needs.
Jean continued her education, receiving her Master of Public Health degree in 1998 at age 75 from the University of Connecticut. Not wanting to retire, she worked until 2002 for Pediatric Associates of Marlborough and in more recent years worked for St. Mary's Day School and a children's safe house in South Windsor. She was active in volunteer work for the American Red Cross, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, the Capitol Region Medical Reserve Corps and assisting young children to read at Robertson School through the Hartford Jewish Coalition for Literacy.
Jean loved to cook for her family and requests for her potato salad, apple pie and apple crisp were frequent. She loved watching Wheel of Fortune and NCIS. Jean loved reading Madeline's adventures in Paris. She was kind hearted and generous, always willing to help. She will be missed dearly by those whose hearts she touched.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. Douglas H. Smith and three children, Bradley C. Smith and his wife Jenny, Jeffrey C. Smith and his wife Rachel, and Cynthia C. Smith; daughter-in-law, Cinde Smith; four grandchildren, Julie, Drew, Elizabeth and Catherine; one great-grandchild expected in April; her sisters, Ruth Potter and Joan Dannucci and her husband Joe, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service to celebrate Jean's life will be held Saturday, November 15, 2014 at
11:30 AM at the North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker Street, Manchester, CT with a reception to follow.
Memorial donations may be made in Jean's memory to help fund scholarships for future nurses to Goodwin College Foundation, Scholarship for Future Nurses, 1 Riverside Drive, East Hartford, CT 06118. To leave a message for her family please visit www.holmes-watkinsfuneralhomes.com .



Service DetailsSaturday, November 15th, 2014 11:30am, North United Methodist Church