Skip to main content

MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Passing of Professor Emerita Nancy Comer Tobin (Nursing)


The college community mourns the loss of Professor Emerita Nancy Comer Tobin (Nursing) who passed away on March 9, 2016.

A member of Syracuse University’s first class of nursing graduates, she worked as a registered nurse in Syracuse-area hospitals before earning her master’s degree in higher education and beginning her teaching career at Upstate Medical Center. Nancy was instrumental in establishing Onondaga Community College’s nursing program prior to moving to Rochester.

She joined MCC’s Department of Nursing in 1972 as an associate professor. In addition to fundamentals of nursing courses, she taught maternity and medical-surgical nursing courses. She was promoted to professor in 1978 for her scholarship, leadership, commitment to the nursing field and her “tireless efforts to develop good nurses.” She managed both MCC’s Licensed Practical Nurse and Registered Nurse programs. She was an involved member of the Faculty Association and advised student organizations during her 13 years at the college. She retired in 1985 and received the rank of professor emerita.

According to her obituary as published in the Democrat and Chronicle, Nancy “continued in private duty nursing until her final retirement at the age of 75. Following retirement, she traveled the world, read and volunteered, but her greatest pleasure came from time spent with her grandchildren. She was an inspiration to many, always encouraging everyone to better themselves through education and her life passion remained teaching nursing.”

Nancy is survived by her son, Michael (Anne) Comer; daughters, Mary (Leo) Haggerty and Catherine Comer; sister, Harriet Pope; brother, George (Patricia) Schuyler, seven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

Services will be today, March 16, at 10 a.m. at Carter Funeral Home, 1604 Grant Boulevard, Syracuse. She will be buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Anne M. Kress
Office of the President
03/16/2016