Sheila Evjy ’74, H.D. ’19 and her husband Jack Evjy, M.D. have committed their lives to being there for each other, their patients, and the future of medicine. At the heart of all of this is Saint Anselm College.
Sheila and Jack never would have met if not for Saint Anselm College. After working as a nurse for a few years, Sheila enrolled in the college’s registered nurse to Bachelor of Science program. For the next two years, she not only took classes at the college, but also spent her weekends working at the on-campus infirmary.
Near the end of her time at the college, she was able to choose her clinical placement and decided to work with an oncology practice in Massachusetts. One of the practice’s physicians was Jack Evjy, M.D. During the semester, she worked with Jack and the other physicians at many different hospitals, where they included her in the full treatment and decision process. After her placement was over, Sheila and Jack kept in touch and eventually married. They’ve been married 46 years, and their shared devotion to patients has been at the heart of their relationship.
“We were a family committed to helping cancer patients and their families through a very difficult time,” says Jack. “[We were] two people who fell in love because of the tragedy of so many lives. We found each other at the bedside, and decided to spend the rest of our lives together.”
As the medical field continues to be on the forefront of science and technology, both Sheila and Jack believe that a grounding in humanity becomes even more important.
“The heart and the humanity of medicine is in the hands of the nursing profession,” says Jack. “You take someone who will walk the road of life with a patient at the bedside working hand in hand with the people in the laboratory to bring the totality of our human capacity to make things better. In many ways, it has been the story of our life together.”
This school is very special; different in many ways. At graduation the other day, sitting there observing the students and the intent with which they listened to the speakers—it gave me chills. That is something you don’t get at many colleges. The students who graduate from here are so well-rounded, grounded, and wholesome.
Sheila has stayed connected to the college over the years, advising on nursing-related topics, and she currently sits on the board of trustees. She received an honorary degree from Saint Anselm College in 2019. She and Jack have also served as judges for the Center for Ethics in Society’s Ethics Bowl.
They are enthusiastic about the new Jean School of Nursing and Health Sciences, and how the heart of Anselmian nursing will continue to be grounded in the person.
“Technology is changing weekly,” says Sheila. “For us to be able to take the reputation of the school of nursing and advance that into so many areas will be a huge boost to the college and humanity as a whole.”
Sheila also notes there’s something about Saint Anselm nursing students that sets them apart. “This school is very special; different in many ways,” says Sheila. “At graduation the other day, sitting there observing the students and the intent with which they listened to the speakers—it gave me chills. That is something you don’t get at many colleges. The students who graduate from here are so well-rounded, grounded, and wholesome.”
She and Jack also have made Saint Anselm College a giving priority through both ongoing gifts to the college and the nursing campaign, but also through planned giving. They are dedicated members of both the President’s Society and the 1889 Society.
“We have a common sense of values about young people and the part they’ll play in the future,” says Jack about his connection to Saint Anselm. “We want to invest in that.”