University Times

Anna Marie Yurick, an associate professor emerita in Pitt’s School of Nursing who taught here for almost 40 years, died Feb. 24, 2003, at her Murrysville home.

Yurick, 67, had advanced uterine cancer and was in the intensive care unit at Shadyside Hospital until shortly before her death. Even while in Shadyside’s ICU, Yurick was more interested in helping others than in dwelling on her own problems, said her colleague and best friend of 30 years, Pitt assistant professor Barbara Spier.

“Ann knew what was important in life,” Spier said. “She knew that it was more important to be there for others than to keep a spotless house. Numerous times, Ann worked until after midnight to help a colleague. Her family knew that they could count on her any time that they were in need. While Ann loved to serve others, she did not want others to go out of their way for her.”

Yurick was chairperson of the nursing school’s Department of Health and Community Systems when she retired in 1999. Co-workers described her as a kind but firm administrator, an excellent teacher and a good listener.

Ann M. Mitchell, an assistant professor of nursing and psychiatry, called Yurick “a wonderful role model. She was a mentor to many of the junior faculty in the department. It was truly an honor to work with her.”

With Spier and two other colleagues, Yurick wrote a gerontology textbook, “The Aging Person and the Nursing Process.” Published in 1980, the book went through three editions and won several awards from nursing organizations.

Yurick was proud of her Slovak heritage and listened to traditional Slovak music on Sunday nights. She also loved garage sales, coupons and after-Christmas sales, according to Spier, who noted: “Finding a good bargain gave Ann great joy.”

Born and raised in Mutual, Westmoreland County, Anna Marie Gera was the eldest of six children. After her father died while she was in high school, she helped her mother to care for her younger siblings. Her mother died in Yurick’s arms last June.

Yurick earned a bachelor of science degree from Pitt in 1958, a master’s degree the following year and, in 1979, a doctorate in rehabilitation counseling with a focus on gerontology.

She is survived by her husband of more than 40 years, Richard; sons Richard of Newport, N.C., and Andrew of Hummelstown, Pa.; daughter Carolyn Yurick Greensburg of Chapel Hill, N.C.; sister Dorothy Mizikar of Jefferson Hills; brothers Andrew and Joseph Gera, both of Mutual, John Gera of Latrobe and Jerry Gera of Greensburg, and four grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.

— Bruce Steele