Faye Gary, distinguished university professor at Case Western Reserve University, passed away on March 1. She was 84 years old.
A native of Ocala, Florida, Dr. Gary earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing and sociology from Florida A&M University, her master’s degree in psychiatric nursing and anthropology from Saint Xavier College (now University) in Chicago, and her doctorate in childhood behavioral disorders and anthropology from the University of Florida.
Dr. Gary’s career as a nurse, scholar, and educator spanned over five decades, including 23 years at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She first joined the university in 2003 and ultimately served as the Medical Mutual of Ohio Kent W. Clapp Chair and Professor of Nursing and a professor in the department of psychiatry. Dr. Gary was also a key leader in the development of the university’s Provost Scholars Program, which offers academic enrichment opportunities to East Cleveland and Cleveland students through faculty mentorship, student tutoring, and on-campus programming.
Throughout her lifetime, Dr. Gary conducted extensive research that shaped health policy involving child and adolescent mental health, health disparities, and domestic violence. She was a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, who honored her as a Living Legend in 2024. Dr. Gary was also involved with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service’s Ethnic Minority Fellowship Program, the National Advisory Committee of the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Institute of Minority Health Disparities.