Owen T. Clarke and his mother, Ruth, namesake of the Ruth H. Clarke Memorial Scholarship for Nursing Excellence.
A new scholarship at Mount Saint Mary College will honor the life and legacy of a woman whose compassion and dedication as a nurse made a lasting impact on everyone she served.
The Ruth H. Clarke Memorial Scholarship for Nursing Excellence was recently established by her son, Owen T. Clarke, in memory of his late mother. The endowed scholarship will be awarded annually to a full-time Mount nursing student who demonstrates both financial need and a commitment to compassionate care.
Ruth H. Clarke began her career in the early 1930s, graduating from the Holy Name Hospital School of Nursing in Teaneck, N.J. Over the decades, she built a legacy as a skilled and deeply empathetic nurse. Though she officially retired later in life, she never stopped caring for others.
“She was a nurse her entire life,” said Clarke. “Even after retirement, she was always there, quietly helping someone. She was a constant source of love and healing.”
In addition to her work in hospitals, Ruth played a pioneering role in public health. She helped launch New Jersey’s school nurse program and provided vital outreach and care to underserved communities, including families in the Ramapo Mountains. Her service extended beyond the clinic: her care was personal, constant, and unwavering.
Clarke chose to establish the scholarship at Mount Saint Mary College after meeting several nursing students and being inspired by their passion and professionalism.
“I was impressed,” he said. “They’re going to be excellent nurses. Supporting them is the perfect way to carry on my mother’s legacy.”
For Clarke, the scholarship is a way to ensure that the same spirit of compassion and dedication that defined his mother’s career lives on in future generations of Mount nurses.
“Nurses share a kind of love that’s hard to explain,” he said. “They’re right there with their patients, moment by moment. That’s what my mother did every day.”
For more than 50 years, Mount Saint Mary College’s nationally accredited Nursing program has trained skilled, compassionate caregivers who are leaders in their field.
To support the Ruth H. Clarke Memorial Scholarship for Nursing Excellence, contact Nikki Khurana-Baugh at 845-569-3216 or Nikki.Khurana-Baugh@msmc.edu.