1992
Citation:
Unselfishly dedicated to God and humankind as a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, Rosemary Connelly, R.S.M., has distinguished herself as a compassionate, innovative and thoughtful leader in nursing care. An intelligent and caring woman, she has earned widespread respect for her dedication to the principle that each child should realize his or her maximum potential. Under her leadership during the past two decades, Misericodia Home in Chicago, Ill., which provides nursing care and special programs to children and young adults, expanded its staff tenfold to more than 700 employees, its volunteers to more than 2,000 and its patients threefold to 450. Along the way, she has expanded existing health care programs and introduced new programs in religion, psychological therapy, physical training and speech. For her pioneering work in health care, she has received numerous awards and citations including the National Caritas Award of the Kennedy Foundation, Doctor of Humane Letters by Loyola University of Chicago and the Guttenberg Award by the Chicago Bible Society.
Award was presented at the President's Cabinet Silver Anniversary Celebration, 1992.