Alice Flaherty dedicated 40 years of her life to the vocation she loved: nursing. While paying for her education, she began her career as a nursing assistant, and excelled in her subsequent roles as a Registered Nurse, charge nurse, and nursing supervisor. At age 50 she returned to school, and proceeded to earn her Bachelor’s Degree both for the personal challenge, and to indulge her love of learning. In 2011, she was inducted into the Cleveland Clinic Nursing Hall of Fame, a tribute to the respect she had earned as a nurse.
The day after her retirement party from Lakewood (Ohio) Hospital, she received devastating news: she had lung cancer. But as she did with all obstacles in life, she tackled cancer and its setbacks with determination and drive. Sadly, Alice lost her 14-month fight against lung cancer in December 2013, at the age of 63.
Rarely did Alice miss a day at the gym. She had a competitive spirit, often winning local road races in her age group. Even when enduring chemotherapy and radiation, she continued to run, play racquetball and exercise. With spirit, she never gave up.
In her last conversation with her grandchildren, Alice requested that she not be forgotten. Family members and friends have pledged to honor that desire-- partly through the “Love a Nurse RuN”-- now in its 10th year. This year, the race will be held on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at Edgewater Park in Cleveland, Ohio (please visit the race page here ). Through this 5k race and 1-mile walk, we will combine her love of family, friends, nursing and exercise, in an event whose proceeds award scholarships to qualified nursing students who either live within or attend school in the Northern Ohio region. In awarding the Alice Flaherty Excellence in Nursing Scholarships, we both honor her legacy and give back to others as she always did.
