June Halper, MSN, APN-C, FAAN, MSCN, a pioneer in the comprehensive care movement for multiple sclerosis (MS), and an esteemed leader and advocate in the field, passed away on July 24, 2024, at the age of 86, working until her final days. She dedicated her life to the treatment of individuals affected by MS and to the expansion and betterment of the MS health-care community at large.
Ms. Halper’s contributions to MS care were multifaceted and extensive. She was a founder of the MS Center at the Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, NJ in 1985, and was the Executive Director until 2008. She was a founding member of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC)—the largest organization of MS healthcare professionals in the world—its president from 1995-1997, and has been the Executive Director/CEO since 1992. She was the founding director and CEO of the International Organization of MS Nurses (IOMSN). In 2002, she spearheaded the establishment of the Multiple Sclerosis International Credentialing Board (MSNICB) that developed the first international certification examination in MS nursing. Her leadership and vision transformed the landscape of MS treatment and support, establishing standards of care that have improved outcomes for countless individuals worldwide.
June Halper published and lectured extensively on MS and its ramifications. Her numerous publications include Comprehensive Nursing Care in Multiple Sclerosis and Advanced Concepts in Nursing Care in Multiple Sclerosis, co-editor of Staying Well with Multiple Sclerosis: A Self-Care Guide, and co-editor of Nursing Practices in Multiple Sclerosis: A Core Curriculum. She chaired the first Multiple Sclerosis Nurse Specialist Consensus Committee’s development of a monograph on the nurse’s role in: adherence to complex protocols; the impact of cognitive impairment; and patient and family quality of life.
She was the recipient of the IOMSN’s first Award for Excellence in Nursing in Multiple Sclerosis, and she was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing in November 1999. As Executive Director/CEO of the CMSC, she initiated the first certification examination for multi-disciplinary MS specialists in 2004. In 2010, under her leadership the CMSC was approved by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education as a provider of continuing medical education for physicians.
Beyond her professional achievements, June was known for her compassion, joy of life, boundless generosity, and spirit of adventure, including decades of boating on the Long Island Sound, and observing fourteen total solar eclipses around the globe. She loved music and travel, and, most of all, time spent with her family and friends. Born on June 22, 1938 in the Bronx, NY, she moved to Fair Lawn, NJ with her husband, Morris Halper, M.D. (deceased 2002), and their young children in 1968. June is survived by: three children, Michael Halper, Matthew Halper and wife Bobbi, Julie Halper and husband Ernie Wilson; two grandchildren, Lee and Hallie Wilson; two step-grandchildren, Andrew and Alexa Lasek; sister Carole Fink; and beloved pug, Charles “Little Bear".
A memorial service to celebrate June Halper’s life and legacy will be held on July 26, 2024, at Louis Suburban Chapel, 13-01 Broadway, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410, at 11:00am. Burial to follow at Cedar Park Cemetery, 735 Forest Ave, Paramus, NJ 07652. Colleagues, friends, and those whose lives were touched by June are invited to join in honoring her memory.
Determined to carry on her legacy, in lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the June Halper MS Nursing Scholarship Fund at the Foundation of the CMSC: https://www.mscare.org/donations/donate.asp?id=24039.
Shiva will be observed at the home of Julie Halper and Ernie Wilson:
41 Gorga Place
Township of Washington, NJ 07676
Lucille (Lucy) Ann Fennessy, age 77, of New Smyrna Beach, died Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at her residence surrounded by her family. Born in Marlborough, Massachusetts to Anna Mary Nevans, Lucy came to the area in 2009 from Claremont, New Hampshire.
Lucy served her community as a Licensed Practical Nurse for over 30 years, culminating in research for Multiple Sclerosis, and then a licensed massage therapist at the end of her career. In retirement she continued to volunteer her nursing expertise in her neighborhood. She was active in her congregation, Coronado Community United Methodist Church, serving as a leader of the UWF Priscilla Circle and a volunteer at the church boutique. Lucy was a member of Hidden Lake Golf Club, where she enjoyed playing golf. Lucy loved bowling and was in several bowling leagues when she was younger. She always enjoyed traveling to visit her grandchildren and was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
Survivors include her husband of 14 years, William; sons, Gordon Clough, of Marble Head, MA; David (Deborah) Clough, of Gilford, NH; Stephen (Bella) Clough, of Athens, GA and Michael Boyle, of New Smyrna Beach; daughter, Cheryl (Michael) Howard, of Augusta, GA; grandchildren, Matthew, Jessica, Brian, Hannah, Alexandra and Megan; great grandchildren, Grayson and Landon.
Lucille was preceded in death by her parents.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.(Remarks at 2:30) on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the Hidden Lakes Golf Club, 35 Fairgreen Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL, 32168.
Suzanne "Sue" Marie Croll, RN, BSN passed away on December 5, 2021. She loved IOMSN and was very proud and involved in this organization. She was an advocate, both for her patient’s as well as in the MS field overall. Her laughter and bright personality will be missed greatly by all those who knew her.
Sue worked as part of the MS team at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI as the MS clinic coordinator. Suzanne touched many of her patients’ lives especially since she had been working in MS for 14 years and they were very saddened to hear the news.
Sue would always stock what she called The Breakfast Cart, and wheel it down the office hallway to sell items to raise money for MS. She was fondly known as “The Breakfast Lady”. In her memory, for MS Awareness Week, her colleagues stocked the same cart and had a whole week of selling breakfast items plus a basket raffle and proudly raised $700 for NMSS - Michigan Chapter.
Wini, as she preferred to be called (“as Wini the Pooh”), passed peacefully in the early hours of November 20, 2020. She devoted her life to the art of nursing and taking care of others since she graduated from St Alexius in Bismarck, ND. At a very young age, she became a nursing supervisor at Saint Joseph Hospital, Denver, CO. She moved to Houston, Texas, in 1966, working at The Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, where she acquired a Cardiovascular Nursing certification, and was night supervisor at the Cardiovascular ICU playing a significant role in the acquisition of the first heart transplant performed in the USA. For her volunteer work, she received several recognitions and awards from the American Heart Association. In 1970, she became inaugural Instructor of the Methodist Neuronurse Course. She joined the department of neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, as a research nurse initially, contributing to the cerebral revascularization studies involving intracranial bypass surgery utilizing microscope techniques in 1972. Later, she joined the neurological clinical services working side-by-side with her colleague for the rest of her life, Dr. Victor M. Rivera, initially providing care in general and vascular neurology, later, concentrating in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) contributing and pioneering in research on early therapies, understanding of the mechanism of disease, and as coordinator of modern day clinical trials. She carried out all these responsibilities while providing long, extensive hours to direct patient care. Wini was one of the original members of the national MS Nurse Specialist Program, receiving the additional title of MS Certified Nurse. Wini literally took care of thousands of MS patients providing them not just with sophisticated state of the art management, but regaling them with her legendary warmth, compassion and patience. Wini was the MS nurse at the original Baylor/Methodist International MS Center in the 1980s, later becoming the first MS nurse at the Maxine Mesinger MS Comprehensive Care Center, inaugurated in 2003. For practically four decades, Wini contributed to the MS neurological education and training of nurses, medical students, innumerable residents, and more specially, and particularly closer to her heart, “adopting” and guiding the many international and MS Fellows whom she tacitly considered as her children and extended family. The International Organization of MS Nurses recognized her work as MS nurse pioneer even though she did not like recognitions.
Wini was amazingly able to keep her calm under the most trying circumstances and challenges she had to overcome during her life, like losing her beautiful grand home to hurricane Harvey in 2017, eventually rescued by an airboat along with her beloved little dog “Gizmo”.
With Wini’s departure, nevertheless, multitude of wonderful memories shall remain. She did not find us. We did. The torch of her strong spirit illuminated many of us during her beautiful and generous life path. That shall also remain.
While MS neurology and MS nursing lost a great example of “why and how to do it”, and MS patient care lost a devoted and unique advocate, we all lost one of the best examples of professionalism, dedication to a cause, a kind soul, an insuperable friend, and a beautiful human being. Rest in Peace.
Sue started her physical therapy practice as a solo practitioner in 1992. Since that time, her team has grown to include 24 employees at 5 Western New York locations. Her focus on comprehensive rehabilitation services for individuals with neurologic conditions made her and her practice a household name among patients and area neurologists. More specifically, she was a national pioneer in the field of rehabilitation for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis helping to advance the standard of care and improving the quality of life of thousands of patients. She served as member of the board of directors of the New York Physical Therapy Association and eventually as the organization’s President. She also served as President of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers which is the preeminent international professional organization for medical/rehab providers involved in the care of patients with MS. Here she led physicians, nurses, and other rehab professionals in advancing research, advocacy, and clinical practice for the MS community. In 2016 the CMSC awarded her with the Lifetime Achievement Award which recognizes an individual whose decades-long commitment has driven significant advances in the care of people with MS. She was the first rehabilitation professional to have received this award.
In addition to her clinical practice, Sue was a full-time faculty member within the University at Buffalo and D’Youville College Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. Throughout her career in education, she taught thousands of student physical therapists how to provide compassionate care that enhances the function of patients with neurologic and vestibular dysfunction. Her clinical touch and empathetic nature will live on for generations through the students that she has impacted. As part of her legacy, Sue has planned for her physical therapy practice to continue to provide exceptional care as her way of helping people long after she herself has stopped treating patients.
Donations to the foundation Sue set up to help cover costs for neurological patients in need:
Checks can be made out to “WNY Center for Neurological Wellness, Inc” and sent to Bennett Rehabilitation Institute; 2075 Sheridan Drive, Kenmore, NY 14223
Dr. Bennett Memorial Wristband Sale
Ms. Janet Marie Brown, MSN, FNP-BC, MSCN, age 54, of Murfreesboro, TN passed away Sunday, September 8, 2019. She was born in Cincinnati, OH to the late Jerome and Martha Herbold Brown. Ms. Brown’s calling was nursing. She became a travelling nurse all over the country and took care of Mrs. Walt Disney in the 1990’s. She graduated Austin Peay University in 1998 with her BSN. She returned to Nashville and put herself through nurse practitioner school while working full time and graduated Tennessee State University in 2001. Ms. Brown became the first Tennessee nurse to be multiple sclerosis certified in 2004. She began her practice at Murfreesboro Medical Clinic in 2011. Ms. Brown’s focused on treating patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She was a faithful member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.
Ms. Brown is survived by her siblings, Robert Brown and his wife Mary of Newburgh, IN, Mike Brown and his wife Sharyl of Denver, CO, Don Brown and his wife Sharon of Raleigh, NC, Barbara Brown of Wenzhou, China, Diane Brown of St. Louis, MO, and Gerard Brown and his wife Pam of Holliston, MA; several nieces and nephews; and her dearly loved Tennessee family.
It is with a heavy heart that IOMSN announces the passing of Nicola "Nicki" Ward-Abel. Nicki was a founding member of IOMSN via our UK affiliate and a founding member of MSNICB. She was a free spirit; a dancer; our Tinker Bell who danced on tables. She loved her family, her friends, her colleagues and her patients. We loved her. She leaves a hole in our world and a hole in our heart. RIP blond and beautiful Nicki. May her memory be a blessing.
Jane Iverson, age 62, of Eagan, MN went to be with her Lord early Wednesday morning October 12, 2016 at Our Lady of Peace Hospice in St. Paul, MN, after an almost 3 - year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Jane was a Registered Nurse. Most of her career and volunteer work was dedicated to the solving of illness and comfort of those patients afflicted with MS.
Jane grew up in Kiester MN, a small farming community near the Iowa border. She was active in high school activities. After graduation, Jane attended and graduated from Waldorf Jr. College, in Forest City, IA and then Lutheran Deaconess School of Nursing, in south Minneapolis. Early in her career she was a summer volunteer for an MS youth camp west of the Twin Cities for 8 years. It was during this time she was nominated to be volunteer of the year by a Twin Cities television station. For several years Jane worked for the national MS Society, which allowed her to travel, visiting and working with some of the largest MS chapters in the country. For many years she worked for the Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology (one of the largest in the country of this type). The doctor for whom she most recently worked gave Jane the highest praise when he said, "Jane was one of the best nurses he ever worked with."
Jane's personal relationship with Christ was the most important part of her life. Jane enjoyed baking for friends, family, and church. She liked all animals, had 3 different cats in her life, and often was the pet-sitter for friends. Jane enjoyed travel and had visited 49 of the 50 states. One of her favorite trips was to New England in the fall.
In the 1980's Jane met Liana, a neighbor who became a life-long devoted friend. Jane and Liana shared many adventures together, taking many yearly trips to Las Vegas (Jane's Birthday trip), Duluth and Eau Claire to name a couple. Liana accompanied and supported Jane throughout her cancer journey.
Jane is preceded in death by her parents, Elmo and Violet (Eilertson) Iverson.
Jane is survived by two brothers: Earl Iverson (Cindy) of Kiester, MN and Tom Iverson (Diane) of Eagle River, AK; several nieces and nephews: Ryan Iverson (Jessica), Kristin Weckwerth (Eric), Cole Iverson (Calista), Justin Iverson, and Leah Iverson; great nieces and nephews, many cousins, an uncle, two goddaughters: Caitlin and Lindsey Ogawa, special friends, Liana and Mark Ogawa, and many additional friends.
Linda Morgante passed away after a courageous struggle with cancer. The nursing and MS world is stunned at her loss. Linda entered the world of MS nursing as the coordinator of nursing services at Maimonides Hospital MS Care Center in 1986, and over the next few years became active as a nurse-researcher, author, clinician, teacher, and nursing leader. She touched the lives of thousands of physicians, nurses, nursing students, and patients and their families during the past 20 years. In 2001, Linda won the IOMSN June Halper Award for Nursing Excellence and in 2005 she was awarded the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing's Writing Excellence Award as well as being inducted into the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's (NMSS) Volunteer Hall of Fame for Healthcare Professionals. Linda was a soughtafter presenter at educational events of the NMSS, the Consortium of MS Centers, and International Organization of MS Nurses.