Marylou McAthie R.N., Ed.D, was proud of being a nurse. She started her career at the Presbyterian School of Nursing associated with Loyola University in Chicago. During her career she served as an administrator, consultant, and teacher holding positions at Oak Park Hospital, Oak Park, IL; Sacramento State University; San Joaquin General Hospital; USPHS Department of Health and Human Services; and Sonoma State University.
She enjoyed telling stories about her time as a student nurse and also about her time as a consultant to institutions in the American Pacific basin including American Samoa, Guam, Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands. In her consultant role she helped establish the American Pacific Nursing Leadership Council which is still instrumental in improving nursing care in that region. At Sonoma State she developed the graduate program in nursing administration, was a major force for the creation of a chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the national nursing honor society, and provided the impetus for an annual research conference highlighting student's research. Dr. McAthie's contributions to quality in nursing service and education have been recognized at the national, regional and local levels.
Marylou died quietly at home after a long period of treatment for end stage renal disease. Although her primary residence was Rohnert Park she also maintained a home in Stockton. She is survived and loved by her sister, Connie Kerbow, brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Vicky McAthie, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and long time friends Laurel Murphy and Carol Lindeman.