Penny Colthurst -- who spent more than 22 years advocating for organ donors, exhibiting compassion and commitment to the families of people who gave the gifts of life, sight and mobility -- died Aug. 24 from complications from a recent surgery.
“She had a special gift for comforting grieving families, whether in the moments after their loved one passed away or several years later,” said Jennifer Tislerics, Special Events & Partnerships coordinator for Gift of Life Michigan. “Thousands of Michigan families have come to know Penny through her gentle spirit, soft voice and generous nature.”
A resident of Northville, Penny joined the organ and tissue recovery organization in January 1990, after serving as a critical care staff nurse on the medical intensive care unit at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. Previous work included nursing at Harper Hospital in Detroit, and with doctors' offices in Livonia and Troy.
She started at Gift of Life as a hospital coordinator, helping facilitate the recovery of organs and tissues and getting these precious gifts to the people who desperately needed them. She was an active member of the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization, and became a Certified Procurement Transplant Coordinator through the American Board for Transplant Certification in 1991.
In 1995, Penny moved to Gift of Life's Public Education Department as the community education coordinator. In addition to coordinating many outreach programs, such as Secretary of State Buddy Day, National Donor Sabbath Weekend observances, an annual exhibit at the Ann Arbor Art Fair and other events, Penny continued to advocate for donor families. She quickly became involved in the organization's annual donor family ceremony, started a couple of years earlier by her boss and friend, Betty Buckley. After Betty's death, Penny helped spearhead the donor family ceremonies for years to come.
Brenda Dangler, a donor mom from West Bloomfield who lost her 21-year-old son Clay, relied on Penny often.
“During the first six months or so of our losing Clay, I found comfort in calling Gift of Life about six times, each time talking with Penny only,” said Dangler. “She was so tender, answered my questions, listened to me cry, gave me advice, etc. It was only at Clay's flag-raising ceremony that I got to meet her in person. What a dedicated woman she was.”
In 2000, Penny was officially named Gift of Life's donor family follow-up coordinator. Although her job title and other duties would occasionally change throughout the next 11 years, Penny devoted the bulk of her time and energy to assisting families who had lost a loved one. She was known to travel far and wide, any day of the week, to attend funerals and memorial services of donors. She would present families with a certificate of honor, a donor medallion and kind words of support. As the master of ceremonies for the annual Michigan Donor Family Ceremonies, Penny provided comfort and gratitude to literally thousands of family members over the years. Soft-spoken, sincere and direct, Penny offered a shoulder to cry on.
The family received friends Sunday at the Northrop-Sassaman Funeral Home in Northville and memorial services were Monday at The Inn at St. John's in Plymouth. Friends and family members were encouraged to leave messages in the funeral home's online guestbook.
“Penny's family has taken great comfort in learning how many people were comforted, mentored and touched by Penny through her work at Gift of Life,” said Tislerics. “Penny was rather modest when discussing her professional life with her family - they did not realize how important her role was at Gift of Life. But we know, and we miss her very much.” Penny's efforts were noted by donor families, her peers at Gift of Life and by industry leaders across the nation. In 2002, the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF) honored Penny with its national DonorCARE Award, which recognizes individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a profound commitment to donor families. “Your dedication provides powerful motivation and inspiration for all of us,” MTF's Martha Anderson wrote in a letter to Penny. Two years later, then-Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land personally thanked Penny for her help in creating a memorial rose bush planting to honor donor families in northern Michigan. The annual rose planting ceremony continues to this day. The following year, 2005, Secretary Land awarded Gift of Life's Donor Family Advisory Committee - which was led by Penny since 1995 - one of her Shining Star awards.
Penny is survived by her former husband, Richard Szeman; children Craig (Kristen) Szeman, Sue (Al) Meacham, Andrea (Harry) Youmans and Glenn Szeman; brothers Ted (Deb) Colthurst and Chris (Mary) Colthurst; and eight grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd. Street, New York, New York 10016 or the American Diabetes Association, 1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22311 would be appreciated. Do you have a heart on your driver's license? If not, go towww.giftoflifemichigan.org to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.
With guidance and support from Penny, the Donor Family Advisory Committee formed a separate non-profit organization in 2004, known as the Michigan Donor Family Council. Penny was invited to be the only non-donor family member of the Council, a seat she was honored to hold.
Penny took her message of donor support across the country. She shared her expertise on donor family matters through poster presentations that were frequently accepted over the years for the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations' (AOPO) annual meetings. Her final poster was presented at AOPO's meeting in Denver this past June. It explained Gift of Life's new donor family follow-up telephone survey, in which Penny called each organ donor family to offer support and gather specific feedback on the family's donation experience. Penny was an active member of the AOPO Donor Family Services Council, sharing her expertise with colleagues in every state.