Robin Renee Nash (nee Ford)

Robin Renee Nash passed away peacefully October 24, 2007 in Pullman, Washington following a long illness. She was 54 years old.

Robin was born to proud parents Emmett R. "Mickey" and Jo Anne L. Ford (nee Pettinato) in Joliet, Illinois on June 11, 1953. She attended Joliet area public schools, graduating from Joliet West High School in 1971. Robin completed two years of study at Lewis University (then Lewis College) before transferring to the University of Illinois Medical School, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy with honors in 1977. She was married to Donald G. Ellis in 1977 and moved to Virginia, where she began her career as a pharmacist and wife. In (1980) Don and Robin relocated to New York, where in 1981 they were blessed with the birth of twin sons Aaron Morgan and Brett Nolan. Tragically, Don was taken by cancer late in 1985. Robin and sons subsequently returned to the Joliet area, where Robin joined the pharmacy staff at Silver Cross Hospital.

After Don"s death, an unexpected sequence of events brought Ken Nash back into Robin"s life. Ken and Robin had dated during their years at Lewis College in the early 1970"s and occasionally afterward, but with time had drifted into separate lives, Robin with Don in Virginia and New York, Ken as a still unmarried research scientist in Denver, Colorado. Following a long-distance courtship of about one year, Ken and Robin were married at Grace United Methodist Church in Joliet on December 7, 1986 and took up residence in Shorewood, Illinois. Ken and Robin were further blessed with the arrival of daughter Cody Shannon in November of 1987. The Nash family enjoyed a tremendously happy life in Shorewood, surrounded by good friends and enriched by close family relationships. While continuing to work, raising three beautiful children, and tending to the care and maintenance of a husband and home, Robin returned to the University of Illinois to complete a Doctor of Pharmacy degree with honors in 1999. Post degree, Robin continued in the Pharmacy Department at Silver Cross, where she had served previously as Acting Director of Pharmacy for a time. After completing her Pharm. D., Robin became actively involved in clinical care of patients at SCH, exercising significant influence in the institution of a Pain Management program there. In 2003, Robin, Ken and Cody relocated to Pullman, Washington, seeking a less stressful way of life in a small, rural college town. Though Robin hoped to continue her career in health care in Pullman, her own deteriorating health made this dream impossible. She remained a loving wife, mother and daughter, a cheerful companion and an energizing spirit to the end of her too short life.

Robin is survived by her loving husband of 21 years, Ken, daughter Cody (a sophomore at Montana State University), son Brett (nearing completion of his education at the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa), son Aaron (graduate of the University of Illinois, Chicago with a degree in industrial design), Aaron"s fiancA�?A�AC., Kristin Miller (a UIC graduate in psychology), mother Jo Anne MacKay (husband Arthur) of Joliet, brother Kevin Ford of Joliet, mother and father""A�??in-law Mae Rose and Ralph Nash of Plainfield township, Grandmother-in-law Ann Gregorash, sisters-in-law Debbie Smith, Jan (Dale) Blachford and Cheryl Burian, brother-in-law Bill (Patty) Nash and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Donald G. Ellis, her father Emmett R. Ford, her grandparents Sam and Myrtle Pettinato, and Laurence E. and Mary Agnes Ford

The family plans to create a scholarship fund in Robin"s name at the University of Illinois, Chicago, College of Pharmacy.

A Chapel Service will be held at the Funeral Home on Monday, November 5, 2007 at 10:00 AM. Pastor Jim Stalzman of Grace United Methodist Church will be officiating. Interment at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be Sunday from 2-8 PM.