‘A force to be reckoned with’
One nurse’s legacy of resilience ignites a $314K gift that powers the next generation of nurses at Sonoma State University
When problems overwhelm us and darkness dims our light, what keeps our inner flame alive?
For the late Mary Nourot, RN – beloved Sonoma State alumna and donor – the answer revealed itself in 1985, after a traumatic accident in her 20s turned her world upside down.
She slipped in a bathtub and suffered a head injury, leaving one side of her body paralyzed. The aftermath left her permanently disabled and reliant on a metal brace to walk, and triggered seizures that denied her the chance to become a mother.
In that moment, life as she knew it would never be the same.
Yet Mary refused to give in to despondency. She drew from a deep well of inner strength, reframing her disability not as a limitation, but as a purpose. That shift ignited what became a lifelong devotion to helping others. Her brother-in-law, Gary Coelho, put it best: “She became a force to be reckoned with” – a phrase he felt captured the fierce determination that defined her.
What began as a budding interest in medicine soon transformed into a profound calling. For Mary, being a nurse was never about the title; it was about answering a need. If someone called for help, she showed up, driven by a fire that blazed within her.
A torch lit from that fire now illuminates the way for future generations of healthcare providers in the form of the Nourot-Orr Scholarship Endowment, a $314,317 bequest to Sonoma State’s nursing program that supports students who – like those Mary would later mentor – simply need someone to believe in them.
Early Sparks of Leadership
“Sharp as a tack and strongly independent,” as described in her obituary, Mary took charge at an early age, embracing the role of caregiver for her siblings and managing the demands of a full household.
Growing up as one of seven siblings, she learned to be both adaptable and attentive, traits her loved ones say she carried into her nursing career. Those formative experiences forged a courageous spirit that would be strengthened by the challenges she faced later in life, guiding her core purpose of service to others.
“She was determined to get it, no question,” said her sister-in-law, Nancy Coelho, recalling Mary's commitment to education. She chose Sonoma State for its alignment with her nursing values and because it met the accessibility needs that allowed her to succeed.
Gary Coelho said Mary believed the most powerful way she could help others – within the realities of her condition – was by continuing her education and stepping into leadership and teaching roles. After a grueling year of rehabilitation, she pushed forward, resumed school, and earned her master’s degree in nursing administration in the spring of 1988.
With her family banding together to support her, she commuted to Sonoma State, living independently during the week and traveling home to Vacaville on weekends. Other universities were closer, but her dedication remained firm through every logistical hurdle.
She joined the nursing sorority, expressing her values of service and community through her dedication to uplifting others. That commitment deepened with time—especially in how she supported those facing hardship.
Leaving No One Behind
“Okay, I’m disabled … but I still have the desire to accomplish things I care about,” Gary said, referring to Mary’s mindset.
Fueled by her lived experience, Mary worked her entire life as an advocate for better patient care and health equity, pushing for accommodations and championing voice-activated technology in nursing reports. Her message was clear: Challenges should never define or limit a person’s potential.
Her work was family – people she loved and stood by. At Sutter Hospital, she oversaw nearly 100 cases and led patient advocacy groups, driven by what one colleague described as a “fierce dedication” to advancing patient-centered care.
That same passion drove her to confront broken systems and stand her ground in the face of resistance, always insisting that patient needs came first. “I’m going to get this done. I don’t care what they say. They deserve it – so get out of my way,” she often said.
More Than a Mentor
Mary’s strength and dedication left a lasting imprint.
One colleague wrote, “She brightened every time I saw her. You could tell she loved her job, which in turn made me love my job more.”
Mary lived out her passion for helping others through mentorship, especially for young women of color. She guided them back to education, helped them navigate setbacks, and inspired them to find purpose. Unable to have children of her own, she poured her love into others, helping them see their worth, believe in themselves, and reach for more out of life.
Her mentorship often blossomed into lasting bonds. She stayed present through the milestones in the lives of her mentees, many of whom later gathered to honor her at her celebration of life.
“She won’t see the full impact,” Gary said, “but she would’ve loved to keep elevating those connections that meant so much to her.”
A Gift That Uplifts
Expanding access to education became one of Mary’s deepest commitments, embodied through the Nourot-Orr Scholarship Endowment. Part of that outlook was shaped by her mother-in-law, Martha Orr, a healthcare pioneer who helped build NorthBay Health in Vacaville. Long before Mary married Peter Orr, who called her “the love of his life,” Martha had embraced her as a daughter.
After Martha’s passing, the Orrs – Peter, Nancy, and Linda – established a NorthBay Health scholarship in her name, designed for healthcare students with C to B-minus grades who showed drive and persistence.
Mary played an active role in the process. Each year, she reviewed applications carefully, taking time to understand the stories behind the GPAs. “She had a gift for recognizing their strengths and saw how powerful a little extra support could be,” Nancy said.
That insight helped inspire the scholarship Mary and Peter later brought to life at Sonoma State. It’s a gift that honors the family’s tradition of giving and advances Mary’s purpose to help future nurses rise.
Igniting the Future of Care
Though her exact reasons for choosing the university remain unknown, Mary’s decision to include a bequest to Sonoma State in her estate plan became a powerful expression of what mattered most to her.
“I can’t tell you why,” Gary said, “but history and events speak for themselves. Sonoma State must have held a special place in Mary’s heart to fund such a gift.” The Coelhos believe the university’s approach to nursing and the role SSU played in shaping her journey likely influenced her choice.
Modeled in spirit after her mother-in-law’s scholarship, the Nourot-Orr scholarship endowment supports aspiring nursing students whose determination speaks volumes. “Grades don’t always reflect the full story behind a student’s drive,” Gary said.
He recalled a young Hispanic student who left school after losing her mother and becoming a caregiver for her siblings. She eventually returned, persevered, and earned her degree. That, he said, is exactly the kind of transformation Mary hoped her scholarship would help make possible – bridging the gap between hardship and opportunity.
Supporting students was personal for Mary. Including SSU in her estate plan turned her belief into action, creating a legacy that continues to lift others through both financial support and the values she upheld.
“To see someone with challenges become a nurse reflects Mary’s philosophy: ‘No matter what, I’m going to stick with it.’ That, again, is a force to be reckoned with,” Gary said.
At Sonoma State University, Mary’s legacy lives on through the students her scholarship supports – individuals who, like her, persist through hardship in pursuit of a future in nursing. Those involved describe the endowment as a mirror of her character: grounded in resilience, compassion, courage, advocacy, and accountability, all closely aligned with the mission of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
The Coelho family emphasized that Mary’s lifelong dedication to others now helps prepare aspiring nurses to lead with purpose. Her gift, they said, continues to open doors, providing students with the support they need to achieve their goals with confidence.
Mary’s life stands as proof that unexpected turns can lead to a greater purpose, and that what we choose to do with adversity can reshape everything. From the moment she stood again, brace clamped to her calf, she chose perseverance over defeat. She turned personal trials into lasting impact, and embodied a conviction that made her a powerful influence.
That spirit now fuels SSU nursing students through the scholarship she and Peter created. For everyone touched by her legacy, her life affirms a timeless truth: one person’s inextinguishable commitment can spark transformational change and strengthen a profession for generations to come.
At Sonoma State, Mary’s spark burns brightly, lighting the way for the nurses of tomorrow.