Adriena Marie Linehan (nee Preissova) NURSE/EDUCATOR


An exemplary member of the "Greatest Generation", Adriena M. Linehan. 93, formerly of Wynnewood, died peacefully at the Meadows at Shannondell on February 12, 2009. She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years Brigadier General John F. Linehan, Jr, USAR.

Mrs. Linehan was born in 1915, in Prague, Czechoslovakia, which was then part of Austria -Hungary. In 1935, at the age of 20, her father sent her to live with relatives in Minneapolis, where she studied at the University of Minnesota to become a registered nurse. In 1939, after obtaining her RN, Mrs. Linehan moved to New York City where she worked as a nurse and continued her studies at Columbia University.

With the entry of the United States into WWII, Mrs. Linehan obtained American citizenship and joined the United States Army's Nursing Corps. She served in the European Theater during the war and achieved the rank of Captain. While stationed in Saltzburg, Austria near the end of the war, she met a U.S. Army company commander who became the love of her life, Captain Jack Linehan, a Philadelphian. They married in 1947.

After settling in Philadelphia in the postwar period, Mrs. Linehan used her G.I. Bill benefits to enroll at the University of Pennsylvania to pursue and earn a Bachelors degree in Public Health Nursing in 1951. In 1953, she earned a Master of Science degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. With her education complete, Mrs. Linehan went to work for the Public Health Department of the City of Philadelphia until 1958. In 1958, she began a twenty-one year tenure ('58-'78) teaching out-patient and public health nursing at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing where she impacted the lives of many young women who went onto make important contributions to the field of medicine. In 2005, the University of Pennsylvania recognized Mrs. Linehan as a Woman Pioneer for "demonstrating an unflagging commitment to education and to the advancement of women through education".

Mrs. Linehan is survived by a son John P. Linehan, (Barbara) of Wayne, a daughter Katherine Martinelli (Louis) of Malvern, two grandchildren: Rory Linehan (Kristen) of San Diego, CA and Courtney Linden (Jonathan) of Phoenixville, one great grandchild Jack Douglas Linehan, three step grandchildren: Lawrence Martinelli (Craig), Lisa Finkel (Arthur), Lee Martinelli (Patty) and three great step grandchildren: Louis Martinelli, Daniel and Nicole Finkel all of Havertown, PA

The family will greet friends at St. Norberts RC Church in Paoli, PA on Friday February 27, 2009 between 9:00 and 10:00 AM prior to a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial, which will begin at 10:00 AM. Internment will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Adriena's memory to "Friends of Penn Nursing Scholarship Fund", University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Claire M. Fagin Hall, 418 Curie Blvd., Phila., PA 19104.