As a nurse anesthetist, Shirley R. (Sweitzer) Neibert, ’57 of York, PA, was highly trained in administering anesthesia for surgery. However, it was her vibrant personal life and steadfast commitment to nursing education that truly captured attention.
Shirley, who died on June 18, 2024, at age 89, was a proud Johns Hopkins double alumna who generously supported JHSON through her estate. We fondly remember her as a trailblazing nurse anesthetist, devoted wife, and successful business owner who embraced education and freely shared her time and knowledge.
After graduating from Johns Hopkins in 1957, she joined York Hospital. Her professionalism caught the eye of Dr. F. L. Harris, chairman of the hospital’s anesthesiology department, who encouraged her to return to school to earn her certificate as a nurse anesthetist. In 1972, she graduated from what was then the Johns Hopkins School of Nurse Anesthetists—a curriculum now part of the Nurse Anesthesia DNP Advanced Practice track.
She then returned to York Hospital as the first nurse anesthetist to hold both an RN and a BS degree, a milestone that paved the way for a long and successful nursing career.
In her personal life, Shirley married Harold Neibert in January 1976. They enjoyed 41 years of marriage until his passing in 2017.
Outside the operating room, she served in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel after 27 years of commendable service. In her free time, she owned multiple businesses—including a gourmet shop and an outdoor-cooking supply store—and played a steady hand in her husband’s Fox Ridge Winery.
Shirley is survived by her stepdaughter, Cindy Neibert, and her grandson, Ryan Arnold.
We are honored to celebrate Shirley’s impactful life and her generosity in supporting the School of Nursing through her estate. Her philanthropy—especially to the Annual and Dean’s Discretionary Funds—will continue her legacy at Johns Hopkins through the work of faculty, staff, students, and alumni.