Donna McNeill

Donna McNeill, 89, of Salem died August 30, 2025, at home, surrounded by her family.

Donna was most proud of her children and grandchildren and accomplished 60-year career as a registered nurse. She was born September 29, 1935, in Youngstown, Ohio, the eldest sister to two brothers, whom she adored. She graduated from the St. John School of Nursing in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1956 and later earned her Bachelor of Science from the College of St. Francis. Shortly after graduating nursing school, she joined the staff of The New York Hospital, where she worked in surgery, the emergency department, and urology service. Later, she worked in public health for the Visiting Nurse Service of New York City.

In 1967, she moved to Vermont and joined the Mary Fletcher Hospital, later the University of Vermont Medical Center, where she soon became head nurse of Obstetrics and Gynecology - the only service of its kind in the state at the time. Fortuitously, while at the University of Vermont, she met Lawrence L. Weed, MD, pioneer of the Problem-Oriented Medical Information System (PROMIS), an early electronic medical record system. This encounter would change her professional trajectory and lead her to head the first nursing unit to use computerized health records. As an integral member of the PROMIS project and faculty member of the University of Vermont, she gave more than 100 workshops, seminars, and lectures nationally and internationally and published 15 articles on the problem-oriented medical record.

In 1982, she moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where she began a new chapter in her career, working as a medical records auditor and legal nurse consultant.

Donna was a talented artist and devoted fan of Notre Dame and Chiefs football. She adored music and loved birds, plants, and animals of all kinds. Everyone who knew her will remember the knowing gleam in her eye, her mischievousness, and her kindness. She loved her children and grandchildren endlessly.

She is survived by her daughter Linda Kaufman of Coral Springs, Florida, daughter Heather McNeill and son-in-law Paul Marksbury of Salem, Oregon, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

The family will hold a private ceremony to honor her life.