Gratitude & Giving Runs in the Family
Dr. Abby (Hitchcock) Heydman RN’64 and her husband, Frank Heydman
As a student, Dr. Abby (Hitchcock) Heydman RN’64 benefited from the generosity of the Sisters of Mercy, who assisted Abby by giving her a loan, supporting her academic journey that would lead to tremendous accomplishments. Years later, she and her family continue to show their appreciation in meaningful ways.
Abby graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1964, and went on to earn a BSN from Duchesne College of the Sacred Heart in Omaha and a master’s degree in Nursing (Medical-Surgical) from the University of Washington in Seattle. In 1987, she also obtained a PhD in Higher Education, Administration from the University of California at Berkeley.
After serving in various clinical and academic roles for nearly 40 years, Abby retired in 2004. During her academic career she served as a faculty member and Interim Dean at Creighton University in Omaha, Assistant Professor at the University of California Medical Center, and held a joint academic and administrative appointment at Samuel Merritt University and Saint Mary’s College of California.
Throughout Abby’s career, she earned accolades from multiple nursing associations and received Mount Mercy University’s Distinguished Service Award in 2009. Her appreciation and devotion to Mount Mercy University led Abby to return the support given to her throughout the years.
A Family’s Appreciation
In 2014, Abby challenged her Mercy Hospital School of Nursing Class of 1964 to establish an endowed nursing scholarship. The scholarship grew to nearly $150,000 by 2023.
Abby’s brother, Fritz Hitchcock, knew the impact the Sisters of Mercy had in his sister’s life. He showed his appreciation by making annual gifts to the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing Class of 1964 Endowed Scholarship Fund in Abby’s honor.
Fritz, like his sister, was an enthusiastic supporter of higher education and giving back to his community. Through his Hitchcock Educational Trust, Fritz financially supported at least 97 students pursuing degrees in nursing, medicine, political science, business, and engineering.
After Fritz’s unexpected death in 2021, Abby and her husband, Frank Heydman, established the F.E. (Fritz) Hitchcock Endowed Nursing Lecture Series at Mount Mercy University in his memory. The inaugural lecture was given on Nov. 7, 2023, titled “Creating a Respectful Practice Environment: The Path to Individual Joy and Organizational Sustainability.”
“The lecture series is an opportunity for the nursing program to help disseminate new research in nursing, ideas for nursing leaders and introduce students to role models who they can aspire to follow in years to come,” said Abby.
Giving back to the community truly runs in the family. One of Abby’s sisters provides annual grants for graduate nursing students to attend professional conferences. She also established the Zeta Harrington Hitchcock Endowed Scholarship in memory of their late mother, Zeta, and has formalized plans to boost the scholarship through a significant estate gift.
The spirit of giving and kindness the Sisters of Mercy ingrained with Abby years ago assisted her on the way to a successful career. Now, through continued generosity, Abby and her family are doing the same for others.
If you have interest in impacting others through education, contact Lonna Drewelow at 319-286-4408 or ldrewelow@mtmercy.edu to explore how you can maximize your charitable giving through Mount Mercy University. Build your legacy and support what matters most to you and your family.