Claudette Cummings

Claudette Cummings R.N., B.S., RPHN, M.S., 88, of Flagstaff, AZ and formerly of Freeport, IL and Beloit, WI, passed away on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at Highgate Senior Living. She was born on March 25, 1936 in Belvidere, IL, the daughter of Melvin and Irene (Berg) Uting. Claudette was a graduate of Chicago Wesley Memorial Hospital, the School of Nursing for Northwestern University, and later received her Masters in Community Health Education from George Williams College. Claudette married James Cummings on November 30, 1957. He predeceased her on June 9, 2004. She later married Willis Zick in December of 2011. Claudette was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church until their closing. She then became a member of United Church of Beloit. Claudette was an avid gardener and bridge player. She belonged to Bridge Anonymous and several other bridge playing groups. She was well known in Wisconsin for implementing programs to address the healthcare needs of underserved, uninsured, and underinsured populations. Many of her programs became a model for expansion throughout the state and nation. Programs she implemented that she took special pride in included reactivating the terminated Visiting Nurse Agency and combining it with the Public Health Department, piloting a federal Child Lead Screening program, establishing STD clinics in WI and IL and an HIV testing site that was named an outstanding clinic in the USA by the CDC, developing a "one-stop shopping" center which became a state model program in Maternal and Child Health, implementing a 24 hour Home Companion Program utilizing HUD Funds, obtaining grants to develop 2 high risk centers providing multi-discipline programs, developing a Teen Mentoring Center for Governor of Wisconsin LearnFare Program, implementing a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, and many other programs focused on domestic violence, the dangers of drinking/drugs and driving, youth mental health issues, and so much more.

In 1983, Claudette raised funds to establish a hospice in Beloit. In 1986, she was named Outstanding Public Servant in the State of Wisconsin. She was on the Boards of the Wisconsin Homecare Organization, the Wisconsin Public Health Administration, the Wisconsin Nurses Association, and Beloit Hospice Inc. She was a national presenter and Adjunct Professor. She was the recipient of the 1996 Distinguished Alumni Award for her consistent and compassionate leadership in the field of Public Health from Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL. She was one of the originators of the Wisconsin Home Care Organization which established standards for home health care in the state and lobbied for health legislation. She was also a member of Community Healthy Improvement Processes and Plans Subcommittee for Healthiest Wisconsin 2010: An Implementation Plan to Improve the Health of the Public. After 30 years of service she retired as Beloit Health Officer and Executive Director of the Beloit Health Department. In 2008, the Claudette Cummings Prize in Community Health was established by Beloit College in her honor. This award was created for outstanding student(s) with a major or minor in health and society who is deemed likely to contribute to the community public health and social justice. Survivors include her husband, Willis; son, Jason Cummings; daughter, Jennifer Cummings; grandchildren, Jessica and Jacob. Claudette was predeceased by her parents; and husband, James Cummings. A Graveside Service for Claudette will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 9, 2024 in the Scottish Argyle Cemetery, Caledonia, IL. Daley Murphy Wisch & Associates Funeral Home and Crematorium, 2355 Cranston Rd., Beloit, WI, assisted the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Beloit College Annual Fund (https://www.beloit.edu/giving/), Beloit College 700 College St., Box 45, Beloit, WI 53511. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.daleymurphywisch.com

LINKS

Daley Murphy Wisch & Associates Funeral Home

Beloit Daily News

http://beloitdailynews.com