Janet Zenk, 'Nursing Trailblazer' For LI Healthcare, Dies At 96

WEST ISLIP, NY —A beloved nurse practitioner, known as a "nursing trailblazer" who created lasting programs on Long Island, passed away last week.

Janet Zenk, of West Islip, 96, died peacefully of complications related to a stroke she suffered earlier this year, was surrounded by friends and loved ones, her daughter Jennifer McManus of Madison, Connecticuttold Newsday.

Born in 1926 to Walter and Helen Scherr and grew up in Ozone Park, Queens.

Zenk enrolled in the Mary Immaculate Hospital School of Nursing and joined the U.S. Nurse Corps to serve her country during World War II, but the war ended before she graduated in 1946, Newsday reported.

She then worked part-time as a nurse at what is now Good Samaritan University Hospital for many years to keep her skills up to date while she raised five children with husband Martin Zenk, according to her daughter.

She returned to school in her late 40s when her children were older, eventually earning a master’s degree from Stony Brook’s nurse practitioner program, her daughter said. Zenk specialized in adult health.

Pat Bruckenthal, PhD, Dean of the Stony Brook University School of Nursing, told Patch that he was one of Zenk's students.

Zenk was an fundamental part of Long Island healthcare, he said.

"“Janet Zenk was a true nursing trailblazer, starting a nurse practitioner run clinic at the Northport VA in the early 80's," said Bruckenthal. "She was an inspirational member of the Stony Brook University School of Nursing faculty. I was one of her students and admired her greatly.”

In addition to her daughter Jennifer McManus and son Martin Zenk, Janet Zenk is survived by three other children, Diana Finnerty, Carolyn Zenk and Gregory Zenk; her sister, Helen Fraser; and five grandchildren and one great-grandchild, Newsday said.

In lieu of flowers, Zenk’s family asked for donations to be directed to the Stony Brook School of Nursing Fund for Excellence.