Elizabeth Colerick "Jody" Clipp

Elizabeth Colerick "Jody" Clipp, PhD, RN, died peacefully in her home Sunday, August 5, 2007 with her family around her. She was 57.
Jody was born in Charlotte, NC and raised in Hohokus, NJ and Baltimore, MD. She graduated from the University of Maryland and worked as an emergency room nurse for eight years before leaving for Cornell University where she earned her Doctorate of Psychology. She accepted a faculty position in the Aging Center of Duke University's Department of Medicine and within eight years was awarded Fellowship in the American Gerontological Society. She rose to become a full professor of medicine and Associate Director for Research in the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center at the Durham VA Medical Center.
Five years ago Jody switched her primary appointment to the Duke University School of Nursing, where she founded the school's first scientific Center of Excellence, led the creation of the Doctorate of Philosophy in Nursing program and later became the Associate Dean for Research. She was awarded the Bessie Baker Chair in Nursing and this year became a Fellow in the American Society of Nursing. Duke University has honored her by renaming the research facility the "Elizabeth C. Clipp Nursing Research Building."
Jody was a nationally recognized researcher in the area of care giving for the chronically ill, and for improving the quality of life and care at the end of life. However, her true skill was in bringing other people together to form consensus and achieve a common goal. She lit up a room with her engaging smile and flaming red hair, but she always put the other person ahead of herself and made them feel special to her. Her mentoring, especially of female scientists, at Duke and UNC may be her greatest legacy.
Jody is survived by her husband of 21 years, Steven Clipp; son, Stephen; and daughters, Elizabeth and Celeste; her mother, Elizabeth Colerick; brother, Craig Colerick; and sister-in-law, Lezlie Colerick.
If it is possible to have it all, Jody did. Somehow she always found time to be with her children, to play their games and read over their school papers. She and Steve had a love affair that was just getting started.
A memorial mass will be held Friday, August 10th, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 940 Carmichael Street, Chapel Hill. A reception will follow in the church.
Before her death Jody established a fund to support scholarship in nursing of the aged.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Clipp Memorial Fund, 512 S. Mangum Street, Suite 400, Durham, NC 27701, attention: Susan Glenn.
Walker's Funeral Home of Chapel Hill is serving the Clipp family.