Linda Nichols Lahey Fay, distinguished professor emerita of nursing at the State University of New York at Canton, passed away on October 28. She was 78 years old.
Professor Fay began her career as a nurse in the pediatric tuberculosis and intensive care units at Metropolitan Hospital in Manhattan. In 1972, she joined the faculty at SUNY Canton, where she taught as a professor of nursing for three decades. She held several roles over her long tenure including program director and dean. She was also a key faculty member in developing the university’s bachelor’s degree program in nursing. She received several awards for her outstanding teaching contributions, including the SUNY Canton College Council’s Distinguished Faculty Award and the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2003, the college established the Linda Lahey Fay Nursing Award in her honor.
After her retirement, Professor Fay continued to be active within the SUNY Canton community. She was a donor of the Canton College Foundation and made several contributions to various endowed scholarships. Recently, she led an initiative to rename the college’s nursing laboratory after the program’s founder, Virginia M. McAllister.
Professor Fay received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from SUNY Plattsburgh and her master of education degree from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York.