Marilyn Spencer was an early ET nurse at the Cleveland Clinic and worked closely with Norma Gill-Thompson and Dr. Turnbull. She was the fourth person Norma trained. Marilyn and Norma were instrumental in organizing the IAET (precursor to the WOCN). She was active in the WCET, and served as its president, helping to establish ET schools in Japan and India. She led Project Share, to ensure ostomy supplies were sent overseas to underserved patients. She was also a prolific writer on Enterostomal Therapy topics. Marilyn began her ET career as an LPN, and became a BSN when this was required by our organization. She served as an integral member of the WOC school at Cleveland Clinic and had a hand in educating numerous individuals from the 1970s through 1990s. Marilyn served as team leader for the ETs at Cleveland Clinic in the late 20th century, encouraging all to maximize their potential. She served by example, giving exemplary patient care, publishing, and working in professional organizations for the betterment of all ETs (WOC nurses). A distinguished member of the Mideast Region of the WOCN®, many will remember her as a mentor and strong advocate for patients and WOC nurses. She passed peacefully at Cleveland Clinic on July 17th, 2018 under the care of the WOC nurses she mentored.
Thank you for a wonderful article about Marilyn. She touched many of our WOC lives, and helped us all to become the best we could be. May you rest in peace, Marilyn!
Thank you for this article. I met Marilyn when I did my ETNEP in Princess Margaret Hospital in Hong Kong, 1995.
I was very grateful to meet her and Norma and they together have taught me and my classmate during the program.
Since then I always missed both of them dearly. I was very sad when I heard that Norma has passed away and her memories with always stay alive with me.
We missed Marilyn dearly too….me and my classmate Widasari from Indonesia and we wanted to meet her…have been trying to contact her and we managed to get her replied our email…and we were in tears when we received the email and she told us that she was not well…we always pray for her recovery but when we heard her passing again,,,,I was very sad because was not able to meet her again since 1995.
Her commitment and dedication towards ETN will always be an inspiration to me and Wida…we love you and RIP.
Mariam, Malaysia
Hi again….
Recently I opened up the 1st private training centre for Enterostomal Therapy Nursing Education Program(ETNEP) and I am so proud that my dreams all this years has come true.
I named our lectures room as “Norma N. Gill” Enterostomal Therapist(E.T.) School and our library as “Marilyn Spencer Library” in the memory of the most outstanding person in the field of ETN.
Love you both so much