Dr. Mary Krugman

Dr. Mary Elizabeth Krugman, 79,  passed away peacefully on April 12, 2023 surrounded by her loving family in Denver, Colorado. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and a respected and celebrated nurse and leader who made significant contributions to her profession.

Mary Krugman was born on October 11, 1943 in Evanston, Illinois. She graduated from Skidmore College with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Mary began her training at NYU in 1963 where she met her husband, then a medical student, Richard Krugman. They were married on July 9, 1966 which marked the start of a 56-year loving marriage. Mary and Richard moved to Denver, Colorado in 1968, where they started a family and raised four boys.

While she was raising her family, Mary was able to pursue her passion for nursing and received her PhD in Higher Education at University of Denver. Mary began working at University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) in 1992, serving ultimately as the Director of Nursing, Innovation, and Outcomes. She co-created the concept of graduate nurse residency programs that have been widely adopted as a best practice across the country.  She was a mentor to dozens of nursing colleagues over her 23 years at UCH.  In 2017 she served as Interim Dean of the CU College of Nursing.

In recognition of her achievements, Mary was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing and received the Florence Nightingale Award for leadership in Administrator, Educator, Researcher and other Nontraditional Roles. In 2020, she received a University Medal from the University of Colorado Board of Regents which recognized “[H]er contributions which have had a positive impact on professional entry into practice and nurse retention at UCH and across the country.”  Mary’s professional legacy is manifested in the excellence of nursing care throughout the country.

Mary's dedication to her family was just as unwavering as her contributions to the nursing profession. Mary is survived by her husband Richard, whom she cherished, and her four sons and daughters-in-law, Scott (Lynn), Josh (Julie), Todd (Maureen), and Jordan were her pride and joy. Her grandchildren, Daniel (24), Jack (23), Ryan (20), Ben (19), Kate (14), Cole (11), Max (9) and Georgina (4), were the light of her life and she adored spending time with them whenever possible. Her family will remember her always as a loving, doting, and generous mother and grandmother.

In lieu of flowers, the Krugman family kindly requests donations to the University of Colorado Foundation for the Dr. Mary E. Krugman Endowed Fund for Nursing Quality, Practice and Outcomes Education  https://giving.cu.edu/fund/write-fund  . Enter Fund 0254290 in the comments box.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 1:30pm at the Donald M. Elliman Conference Center, Anschutz Health Sciences Building, 2nd Floor, 1890 N Revere Ct, Aurora, CO 80045 Anschutz Medical Campus. Please go online to Celebration of Life - Dr. Mary Krugman Tickets, Sat, Jul 8, 2023 at 1:30 PM | Eventbrite  for more information.

Please share memories of Mary and condolences with her family by signing the online Guest Book.