Barbara Lea Jury

1927 - 2021

July 29, 1927 - November 16, 2021 Barbara Jury lived a full life in service to friends, family and community. A person of unbounded energy, she was a nurse, hospital administrator, volunteer, philanthropist, music-lover, avid sports fan and world-traveller.

Born and raised in Redlands, she discovered her calling early. At age seven, she spent a week in the hospital recovering from an appendectomy. She believed the experience planted the seed. She graduated from Redlands High School in 1945, attended the University of Redlands, and transferred to USC. She graduated in 1950 with a B.S. and RN license.

She spent her 46-year career at California Hospital Medical Center. Barbara obtained a master's degree at UCLA and became the newborn nursery manager, where she helped create one of the first newborn intensive care units in LA. Eleven years following her RN license, she became Director of Nursing and, in her final career chapter, the first Director of Risk Management.

Barbara loved USC, attending countless Coliseum and Rose Bowl games. In retirement, she volunteered for KUSC, the university's classical music radio station. For her life-long support, she received a 2016 USC Half Century Trojans Hall of Fame award.

Barbara was a dedicated member of Soroptimist International of Los Angeles for more than 50 years, serving three terms as president and governor of the Camino Real Region. She was also a committed supporter of the DaCamera Society, Downtown Women's Shelter, Hope Street Family Center, and Barlow Hospital.

She is survived by her sister, Carolyn Jessop, three nieces, Susan Jessop (Antien), Linda Leibovich (Alex), and Karen Vahala (Kerry), and six great nieces and nephews. She inspired family and friends with her unfailing optimism and generosity of spirit. Gifts in Barbara's memory may be directed to the Barbara Jury Scholarship at the USC School of Nursing or SILA.