Ruth Satterfield

Col. Ruth Pacini Satterfield, ret. passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday, March 1st at the age of 94. She will be remembered most for her contributions to the development and advancement of Anesthesia Nursing Education. While in the Army Nurse Corp., she served as “Course Director” from 1942-1956, followed by the position “Education Director of the Curriculum” from 1956-1968 for the Army School of Anesthesia. Ruth was also appointed as the first female consultant to the Surgeon General in 1961. She held this position until retirement in 1968. From 1968 through 1981, she served as an Educational Consultant to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. In 1985, she was awarded the title of “Consultant Emeritus to the Council on Accreditation” for the A.A.N.A. Ruth’s professional awards and honors included “Second Oak Leaf Cluster” to the Army Commendation Medal, “Legion of Merit Award”, “A” prefix for Military Occupational Specialty, “Amita Award”, first recipient of the “Agatha Hodgkins Award” and the “Award for Distinguished Achievement in Nursing Practice” presented by the Alumni Association at Columbia University. Her nursing education began at Georgetown University Hospital in 1931, where she received her diploma in nursing. She continued to study attending Catholic University, Georgetown University, and Western Reserve University where she received her Certificate in Anesthesia, University of Rochester where she received her B.S. in nursing education and Columbia University where she received her Master’s Degree in Nursing Education. A long time resident of El Paso, Ruth was born in Lewistown, PA. She was the daughter of Florence Shilling Pacini and John Pacini. She is preceded in death by her nine siblings: Veronica Pacini, Mary Pacini Russ, Ida Pacini Pugliese, Patricia Pacini, Thomas Pacini, Cloyd Pacini, John Pacini, Philip Pacini and Paul Pacini. She is survived by the Turner family, Mark, Norma, Cassandra and Jacob, who shared both their home and lives with her, along with many nieces and nephews including, Ruth Pacini Holt of Wilmingtion, DE and Mary Ann Pacini Kenningtion of Las Vegas, NV. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 pm, Thursday, March 6, 2008 with a vigil at 7:00 pm. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, March 7, 2008 at Christ the Savior Catholic Church. Interment will be at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 106 N. Dorcas St., Lewistown, PA, 17044. Service entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast.