Pamela Clauss
Encyclopedia
Pamela Clauss was an Australia
n pioneering nurse, philanthropist and supporter of historical preservation and the arts.
Born as Pamela Heavey in Longueville, New South Wales
, a suburb of Sydney
, to Alison Maud (née Bennett) and John Aloysius Heavey, a New Zealand Navy
veteran who had been decorated during World War I
for bravery in the ANZAC
landing at Gallipoli
in 1915.
She graduated from Sacred Heart College
in Kensington, Sydney
and went on to attend nursing training at St. Vincent's Hospital, also in Sydney, in 1942. In 1956 following activities in Europe and England she returned to Australia and became a nursing sister in charge of St. Vincent's newly established cardio-thoracic surgical unit.
Three years later she went to the Mayo Clinic
as part of an exchange-training program, and in 1965 she joined the open-heart surgery team of Dr. Roy H. Clauss
(who would become her husband in 1970) and Dr. George Reed in NYC. She went on to pioneer cardiac bypass surgery techniques at the Mayo Clinic, at New York University
and at the New York Medical College
.
She married Dr. Clauss, a widower, in 1970, and remained in Manhattan for the rest of her career and married life until her death. They had no children, but she became stepmother to his three children.
in 2001, 12 days before her 76th birthday. Her funeral Mass was held at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola
, where funeral services for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
and Aaliyah
, among many others, were also held.
She is also survived by family in Australia including a sister, nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and nieces etc. including Tobias, Samuel and David Rosenthal and to Vanessa, Carl and Brooke Lazarus and sisters. One sister, Philippa Lazarus, is the wife of Leslie Lazarus, of Sydney, who is an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n pioneering nurse, philanthropist and supporter of historical preservation and the arts.
Born as Pamela Heavey in Longueville, New South Wales
Longueville, New South Wales
Longueville is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Longueville is located 8 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Lane Cove....
, a suburb of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, to Alison Maud (née Bennett) and John Aloysius Heavey, a New Zealand Navy
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
veteran who had been decorated during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
for bravery in the ANZAC
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps was a First World War army corps of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force that was formed in Egypt in 1915 and operated during the Battle of Gallipoli. General William Birdwood commanded the corps, which comprised troops from the First Australian Imperial...
landing at Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
in 1915.
She graduated from Sacred Heart College
Sacred Heart College
There are a number of colleges with the name Sacred Heart:-Australia:*Sacred Heart College, Kyneton, a Catholic co-ed Secondary School run by the Sisters of Mercy*Sacred Heart College, Geelong, a Catholic school for girls in Victoria...
in Kensington, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and went on to attend nursing training at St. Vincent's Hospital, also in Sydney, in 1942. In 1956 following activities in Europe and England she returned to Australia and became a nursing sister in charge of St. Vincent's newly established cardio-thoracic surgical unit.
Three years later she went to the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
as part of an exchange-training program, and in 1965 she joined the open-heart surgery team of Dr. Roy H. Clauss
Roy Clauss
Dr. Roy H. Clauss, M.D. was a pioneering cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon....
(who would become her husband in 1970) and Dr. George Reed in NYC. She went on to pioneer cardiac bypass surgery techniques at the Mayo Clinic, at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and at the New York Medical College
New York Medical College
New York Medical College, aka New York Med or NYMC, is a private graduate health sciences university based in Westchester County, New York, a suburb of New York City and a part of the New York Metropolitan Area...
.
She married Dr. Clauss, a widower, in 1970, and remained in Manhattan for the rest of her career and married life until her death. They had no children, but she became stepmother to his three children.
Philanthropy
She was dedicated to the following:- Inner City Scholarship Fund for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
- Yorkville Common Pantry (Manhattan)
- Community Board #8 (Manhattan)
- The 74th Street Association (Manhattan)
- Metropolitan Opera and Philharmonic (NYC)
Death
She was a devout Roman Catholic, although her husband was a Presbyterian deacon and elder. She died from cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 2001, 12 days before her 76th birthday. Her funeral Mass was held at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus and was its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation...
, where funeral services for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier "Jackie" Kennedy Onassis was the wife of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Five years later she married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle...
and Aaliyah
Aaliyah
Aaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
, among many others, were also held.
Family
Pamela Clauss is survived by a large extended family including her husband Dr. Roy H. Claus(died 2007), stepchildren Roy, Elliot and Jane, and step-grandchildren, including a namesake.She is also survived by family in Australia including a sister, nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and nieces etc. including Tobias, Samuel and David Rosenthal and to Vanessa, Carl and Brooke Lazarus and sisters. One sister, Philippa Lazarus, is the wife of Leslie Lazarus, of Sydney, who is an Officer of the Order of Australia.