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Montag leaves a
nursing legacy behind
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Mildred Montag, Adelphi University's first director of the School of Nursing, died at noon on January 21, 2004. She was 95 years old. In an email sent to the entire campus, President Robert Scott described Montag as "a visionary nurse educator whose innovative research and inspired teaching led to an unprecedented expansion of the nursing profession, bringing countless benefits to the health and well being of generations." Montag served as director of the School of Nursing, created to supply war services during the Second World War, from its founding in 1943 until 1948. She left to attend Columbia University's Teacher's College, completing her doctoral studies. She used her dissertation, which proposed educating technical nurses in a two-year time span and funding from the W.K. Kellogg foundation, to implement her idea in seven pilot programs in universities. Her programs gained wide-spread success and helped to alleviate the dire nursing shortage. During her five-year stay at Adelphi, the number of graduates increased from 27 to 500. Today's School of Nursing boasts over 6,300 alumni. In May 2003, Montag was celebrated at the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the School of Nursing. She was presented a citation that, according to the press release, described Montag as "a beacon of leadership." President Scott said in a press release, "Even though she left Adelphi in 1948, she remained an active member of the Adelphi family. She will be greatly missed." According to Alicia Goldstein, Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Montag was roommates with 101 year old legendary Ruth Harley, once University Registrar, Dean of Women and Dean of Students, for more than 60 years. The Delphian extends its condolences.
