In Memory

Dorothy Tassey (Brunson) - Class Of 1941

Dorothy Tassey (Brunson)

Dorothy Tassey Brunson, a retired Registered Nurse, died peacefully at her home in San Luis Obispo, California on January 27, 2018. She was 95.

A resident of San Luis Obispo for over five decades, she came to the area from Fallbrook, California to work at the newly-opened Sierra Vista Hospital. After attaining the Director of Nurses position she was tasked with an advisory role in helping create the Cuesta College Nursing Program. Continuing her nursing career until retirement with the San Luis Obispo County Health Department she was very proud to be a part of the Well Baby program and would visit moms throughout the county to insure good health for the babies and the moms.

In retirement she enjoyed Aqua Aerobics, lunches with the Sierra Vista Luncheon Group, traveling and quality time with her grandchildren.

She received her nursing training at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles as a member if the US Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II. The Cadet Corps was an accelerated training program designed to alleviate a critical wartime nurse shortage in the military services and on the home front.

Born in Los Angeles on November 2, 1922, she graduated from Henry E Huntington Grade School in San Marino and South Pasadena-San Marino High School in South Pasadena.

Her husband of 67 years, Chester Brunson, preceded her in death in 2015. She is survived by her brother, Hugh Tassey '45 of Grayslake, Illinois; daughters, Lyn (Steve) Brunson-Clements of Weiser, Idaho and Kathryn Brunson-Atkins of San Luis Obispo, and her son, John (Jayme) Brunson of Morro Bay; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Hugh Tassey '45, Dorothy's brother