Monroe Community College mourns the passing of Helene S. “Kay” Charron, RN, outstanding educator and former Department of Nursing chairperson, on August 4 from a massive stroke. She was 72 years old. Mrs. Charron is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, Ron; her daughters, Michele (Gary) Gefell, and Andrea Hagen; and four grandsons.
Mrs. Charron served our students and community in many ways. She joined MCC in 1965 as an assistant professor in the Department of Nursing, specializing in psychiatric nursing. She was promoted to associate professor in 1969 and professor in 1974. She was appointed chairperson in 1989 and led the department until her retirement in 1995.
From teaching writing-intensive courses to leading strategic planning initiatives, Mrs. Charron’s impact on MCC was significant. She administered a strategic planning grant to facilitate the admission of licensed practical nurses into MCC's nursing program. That effort resulted in more registered nurses for our community. In 1995, she received the 1995 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Prior to MCC she was the coordinator of psychiatric nursing at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York and a head nurse at Monroe Community Hospital. She earned her bachelor of science and master of science degrees in nursing from the University of Rochester in 1964 and 1965 respectively.
Within the community, Mrs. Charron assisted the Rochester Psychiatric Center in order to assure their continued accreditation. She was also a member of the Genesee Valley Nurses Association, New York State Nursing Association, Coalition of Collegiate Nursing Program Chairpersons, American Nurses Association, and National Nurses Society on Alcoholism. She served as chairperson of the New York State Nurses Association's Regional Committee on Nursing Education and Western New York League for Nursing's Program Committee. Her partnership and service extended to area nursing programs and hospitals.
Within her nomination for the Chancellor's Award, colleague Virginia Shea wrote, “Mrs. Charron is the most innovative and creative teacher with whom I have ever worked. She was the leader in the development of our auto-tutorial laboratories, and continually devises methods and techniques to stimulate student interest in course content.”
Friends may attend an Eastern Star Service at 1:30 pm followed her memorial service at 2 pm on Sunday, August 15 at the West Bloomfield Congregational Church, 9035 Routes 5 & 20. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the OES Nursing Scholarship Fund, payable to The W.H. Albery Society, P. O. Box 391, Laurel, N.Y. 11948 or to the W. Bloomfield Congregational Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 5, Bloomfield, N.Y. 14469. Letters of condolences may be sent to Ron Charron, P.O. Box 196, 9148 Dugway Road, West Bloomfield, N.Y. 14585.
Anne M. Kress
President
08/09/2010 |