Many fond memories have been shared since we learned about the passing of Shirley Bloodworth (double UF Nursing alumna BSN ’65 and MN ’66). Shirley was employed as a Community Scientist since 2015 and provided health care advice for several entities at the University of Florida. She passed away peacefully on October 24, 2024, at Community Hospice in Jacksonville.
Shirley was a beloved colleague who worked with a team of dedicated Community Scientists. They are organized through the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and the UF Health Cancer Center, and they serve our department, Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics (HOBI), as well as the OneFlorida+ Research Network, and other centers at UF Health.
“Shirley is one of the most amazing people that I have had the privilege to know. She will be so deeply missed,” said Elizabeth Shenkman, the chair of HOBI and co-director of CTSI.
Shirley lived her life with intention. She was a compassionate community connector who made a positive impact on the lives of so many.
Shiley was involved in a multitude of studies and had a special interest in research concerning patient rights, informed consent, aging and end of life issues, cancer, and brain health. She had participated in clinical trials for more than 15 years at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. In a final selfless act, she donated her brain to Mayo Clinic Neuroscience Brain Bank.
A Model of Living Fully
As a Community Scientist, she supported research protocol development and most recently served as a Member of HealthStreet Community Outreach and on the CTSI and Cancer Advisory Boards. In 2021, Shirley was honored with the UF Health Cancer Center’s Community Outreach of the Year award. As recently as 2023, Shirley was a co-author on a peer-reviewed journal article.
Shirley truly used her talents until the very end of her life to benefit patients.
“Shirley modeled what it means to have patient engagement integrated into all health system and research programming, and all conversations I had with her included some element of ‘how can this improve care of our patients,’” said Jennifer Woodard, M.P.H., R.N., CCRP, director of the Cancer Center’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement. “She made my world brighter with her humor, grace, and tenacity.”
Shirley was also known as the “matriarch of the aging in place movement in the Gainesville area.”
Shirley was born in 1929 in New York City to Canadian parents. She was married for 54 years to Thomas Bloodworth and had two children.
A memorial service has been planned for December 20 at The Village in Gainesville, a senior community where Shirley lived. According to an obituary in the Gainesville Sun, Shirley has requested donations to The Foundation of Community Hospice, Elder Care of Alachua County, the Shirley Bloodworth Long Life Learning Program Fund (a partnership between Santa Fe College and The Village), or any dementia or cancer research initiative.
Kristie Hill, a fellow Community Scientist, wrote this tribute:
“Ms. Shirley will be missed, she was amazing and I learned a lot from her. When I first started as a community scientist, she took the time aside to have lunch with me to further explain the role. She often talked about meaningful engagement and it’s something that’s stuck with me. Ms. Shirley’s life was full of meaningful engagement with so many people. She was hope for so many people and loved helping her community. It was a pleasure to work alongside her.”