Augusta (Gussie) Fitzsimons: Augusta (Gussie) Fitzsimons, who has died aged 73, was a former director of nursing at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin. She helped to save the hospital from closure in the 1980s and saw it flourish in the 1990s.
"Ms Fitzsimons's dedication to the needs of the patients and the public we serve was evident in her enthusiasm and her work ethos," Marie Tighe, the hospital's current director of nursing, said. "She cared for patients and staff alike."
Born in Monaghan in 1933, she was one of the six children of John and Kathleen Fitzsimons. Educated locally at the convent of St Louis, in 1953 she began her general nurse training at the Mater Infirmorum Hospital in Belfast.
On completing her training she was chosen to lead the nursing team in an innovative neuro-psychiatric unit headed by Dr Pearse O'Malley and in 1962 was appointed ward sister.
The following year she was seconded to the Purdysburn Hospital in Belfast where she undertook her psychiatric nurse training. In 1965 she returned to the neuro-psychiatric unit at the Mater.
Notwithstanding the advent of the Troubles, she enjoyed working in Belfast. However, in 1973 she moved to Dublin to care for her ill father, taking up a part-time post at the Eye and Ear hospital. Following her father's death in October 1975, she started full-time employment there. In October 1980 her mother died. During this time she also cared for two elderly aunts.
She completed her ophthalmic nursing diploma in June 1981 and in May 1982 was appointed to the post of Matron at the Eye and Ear hospital where she remained until she retired in 1998. She had a strong interest in nurse education and the professional development of nurses and nursing.
A member of the faculty of nursing and midwifery at the Royal College of Surgeons since 1976, she was vice-dean from 1995 to 1998 and became dean in 1998. She was a member of the faculty board and, having served the maximum term of 15 years on the board, attended her last meeting in November 2006.
Appointed in 1992 to An Bord Altranais, the regulatory body for the nursing profession, she was a member of the finance committee for several years. She was also an executive member of the Matrons' Association, now known as the Irish Association of Directors of Nursing and Midwifery, and served as treasurer. In addition she was an active member of the Nurses' Rest Association.
During her years at the Eye and Ear hospital she cared for many patients with cancer of the throat. She was a founder member of the Laryngectomy Association of Ireland, which was set up to provide support for this vulnerable group of patients.
When closure loomed in the 1980s she initiated a campaign to keep the hospital open.
Her sister Céline recalled: "Her determination, dedication, leadership, networking skills and organisational ability pulled together a formidable team which fought ferociously to stave off closure and secure funding and the hospital emerged stronger than ever."
She lived life to the full. As a student nurse she enjoyed penny poker and sneaking out of the nurses' home to attend dances. In later life she enjoyed travel and photography but was not too old to go clubbing in Leeson Street, where colleagues found that she could boogie with the best of them.
Her party piece was The Boys from the County Armagh, while the opera season in Dublin was one of the highlights of her year. She had a deep religious faith.
She is survived by her sisters, Sr Kitty Fitzsimons (St Louis sisters) and Céline, and brothers Éamonn and Seán.
Susan Augusta (Gussie) Fitzsimons: born December 26th, 1933; died March 9th, 2007.