Don H. and Iva M. Bellinger Trust

Iva Mary Bellinger was a member of the first class of the School of Nursing and Hygiene at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, where she served as an RN from 1927-1985. The hospital’s archive contains Mrs. Bellinger’s basketball uniform, and other memorabilia. Mrs. Bellinger’s niece, also an RN, recalls her as a “person of strength, commitment, and vision” who had a “wonderful spirit.”
Mrs. Bellinger retained her nursing licensure at least into her 70’s, and perhaps longer, according to her family. Other nieces and grand nieces chose Nursing as a career because of Mrs. Bellinger’s example. Mrs. Bellinger passed away in January 1992, and left a portion of her estate to fund this scholarship program, to help future generations of nurses realize their goals.