Gloria M. Shuler Rookard was born on January 3, 1932, in Akron, Ohio.  She was the second of nine children from the union of Claude and Maurine Shuler. Gloria departed this earthly life peacefully Thursday June 16, 2022.

Gloria was an Akron East High School graduate. After multiple failed   attempts due to integrational policies, she was the first African American accepted into Peoples Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1952. While still attending nursing school, she eloped and married Howard Rookard and went on to have five children.

Gloria worked at Akron General Hospital (formerly People’s Hospital) from 1952 to 1968, where her concern grew about the substandard care and resources for migrant workers in Ohio. Desiring advanced nursing  certifications, she became a certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and    increased her involvement in advocacy for women and children’s public health.

Before 1970, Gloria and Howard Sr., had a family of five children. Both were working parents, and although she worked exhaustive hours, she still cooked, prepared meals a week at a time and washed and ironed the     children’s clothes.  Desiring advanced nursing certifications, this required her to commute to and from Southern Ohio. She would come home on  Friday, cook, wash, iron and match each child’s clothing (down to the socks, undergarments, and belt) and leave out on Sundays for another week of classes. Finally, she was certified as a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNA).

    “The deep, abiding concern to establish communication and dialogue among Black nurses to effectuate change in the healthcare delivery to Black people motivated and stimulated Gloria Rookard and three other nurses to organize the National Black Nurses Association. Their            initial endeavor began with the organization of an informal meeting for Black nurses attending the American Nurses Association Convention This meeting took place May 1970 in Miami, Florida.” Barbara Norman, R. N. PhD., Historian”

EXCERPTS from FOUNDERS:  a page in Our History by Gloria Rookard

Gloria was later designated by President Jimmy Carter as a Presidential Appointee on the American Family. This was the final launchpad. In 1982, she founded Universal Nursing Services, Inc., a multi-million-dollar   company that at one time, had 300 employees. It remained in operation until her retirement in 2004. Not only was she a consummate businesswoman, but a strong public health advocate as well.

In addition, Gloria served as the President of the Ohio Pediatric Nurse Practitioner’s Association; board member for the American Diabetic     Society; board member of Da Suga Foundation, Inc., and board member of the Fallsview Psychiatric Hospital. She is a Gold Lifetime Member of the NAACP, and a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

She also authored two books including:  FOUNDERS: a page in Our    History, which features mini bios of all the Founders of the NBNA (currently under revision) and WHO’S WHO AMONG CONTEMPORARY NURSES (1st ed, 1984), available on Amazon. Her series, “YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT” was featured in 1441 Magazine (January – March 2018).

In retirement, she served as an Executive Board Member of T-LIMS (The LORD is My Shepherd) Ministries and is a charter member of the     American Legion Auxiliary Unit 2 in Washington, DC.

Gloria carries the legacy of her parents, Claude and Maurine Shuler;     husband, Howard James Rookard Sr.; son, Derrick; grandson, Douglas Jr.; brothers, Leon and Alonzo; sisters, Francis, Diane, and Patricia.

Her surviving family are her children, Howard Jr., Douglas (Denise),    David, and Deanna; brothers, Claude Jr., and Lawrence (Mary); sister, Gwen; grandchildren, Ericka, Jason, Amaris, Chayla, Courtney, Little Ashley, David Jr. Aaron, Daylon, Quincy, Ashley, Alexis, Brittney, and Constance; as well as many loving cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.