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 | Memories
 The Arthur B. Ancker Memorial School of Nursing
Class of 1976 The Last Class
30th Reunion November 25, 2006
Submitted by Class President Nancy (Goff/Carruthers) Huisenga
The Class of 1976 started out with approximately 120 students in 1973, and graduated 65 men and women who went on to pass their RN boards and practice nursing. It was one of the last diploma programs in the State of Minnesota to close its doors in favor of two-year associate degree and four-year baccalaureate degree programs. It was the end of an era.
In the 30 years since, our class finds itself spread across the United States, with classmates in Washington, Florida, Utah, California, Wisconsin, Arizona and Minnesota. There are a few who have left nursing altogether for other occupations, including working for airlines, private businesses, medical corporations, raising children, and more; but many of our classmates remain in hands-on nursing care in hospitals, clinics and schools spread throughout Minnesota and beyond. Some nurses teach, some are involved in computer technology in the hospitals, some work the whole hospital in smaller towns, some are directors of nursing the many options available for nursing practice is clearly evidenced in our class.
Many classmates began their careers working at what was then St. Paul Ramsey Hospital, and since then several have remained at Regions for a long time. Sheila B. obtained her nurse-midwife certification and has delivered over 10,000 babies at Regions Hospital. Terry C. is a staff nurse and works with Sheila in Labor and Delivery at Regions. Nancy H., class president of the Class of 1976, worked until 1991 in coronary care and then with the Section of Cardiology in Cardiology Research at Regions (then Ramsey Hospital) before moving into medical research with research organizations and corporations in Maple Grove, White Bear Lake and eventually the San Francisco area. Many graduates have gone on to receive higher education, and today hold bachelors and masters degrees.
We took the time to honor four classmates who have died. Losing Laura, Randy, Sondra and Janice caused us all to stop and ponder the shortness of their lives and the hole left in the collective assembly the night of the reunion. The silence was palpable. But they, along with all the other Ancker graduates who have gone, are still with us.
We sang the Florence Nightingale Pledge struggled with the lyrics in places but got through it. We laughed and told stories of dorm life (now that the dorm is being scheduled for demolition, they are even more meaningful), recounted experiences with different teachers, and sighed as we thought of the large needlepoint tapestry of the Ancker nursing pin that our teachers made for our class, which can be found bolted to the wall in the emergency department at Regions Hospital, under the watchful eye of the many Ancker grads still working there.
Our reunion was simple a social hour and a dinner at a St. Paul restaurant no entertainment, no guest speakers, no dance music. The noisy story telling, the hugs, reconnecting with school days and traditions like being pinned and capped by our big sisters, the blue and white pin-striped and apron uniform, white nylons and conservative/practical white uniform shoes. Those days are gone, but not really they live on in the rich memory of the traditions forged by our preceding generations of three-year diploma nurses who lived, studied and worked at Arthur B. Ancker Memorial Hospital. Eventually the name changed to St. Paul-Ramsey Medical Center, then Ramsey Medical Center, then Regions the names and size and scope of the institution has changed, but not the high quality, the character and the mission. We are all proud to be graduates of this impressive institution and proud to recall our Class Motto in 1976 They Saved the Best for Last. In reality, we are all a part of the best: ALL of the graduates of the Arthur B. Ancker School of Nursing.
We thank Regions Hospital administration for making our reunion even more special a long-stemmed, red rose was donated by Regions and was presented to each of the 41 graduates who were able to attend the reunion. Thanks also for the loan of memorabilia from the early years of Ancker School of Nursing it was so very meaningful. Next time, in 2011, we hope to have all 61 remaining graduates of 1976 there and include a tour of our hospital. We want to stay connected to the institution that made it possible for us to be proud registered nurses.
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