Georgia Reynolds was born and raised in the Republic of Panama, the younger of two daughters of parents Irene Coarts and Thomas Michael Reynolds. Dr. Reynolds grew up at Balboa Heights, Canal Zone (near Panama City), where her father was a canal zone railroad station manager. She was educated at U.S. government schools including the Canal Zone Junior College. Growing up in Panama, Dr. Reynolds became fluent in Spanish.
Prior to World War II, Dr. Reynolds moved to her parents' home state of Maryland and completed a three-year nurse training program at the Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, followed by a post-graduate course in operating room technique at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. From there, she was employed by the Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Ohio.
On December 7, 1941, Dr. Reynolds enlisted in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, as one of many "Pearl Harbor patriots." After training at a number of hospitals in Portsmouth, Virginia, Farragut Naval Training Station, Idaho, and Mare Island Naval Hospital in California, she was assigned to the U.S.S. Bountiful, a Navy hospital ship on which her duties included setting up and supervising the ship's operating room. During her 17-month service in the Pacific, Dr. Reynolds participated in the invasions of Guam, Saipan, Pelelieu, Tinian, Leyte, the Philippine Islands, and Iwo Jima. She left the Navy as Lieutenant, Senior Grade, and was awarded five combat stars and a Pacific Fleet Commendation.
Working as a nurse and using the G.I. Bill, she pursued her dream of becoming a doctor. She entered the University of Maryland's School of Medicine, where she was one of four women in a class of 100 students. Upon completion of her residencies in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Dr. Reynolds joined a private pediatric practice in Cleveland, Ohio, where she remained until 1956, when she relocated to Fort Lauderdale. Dr. Reynolds spent her first year here working as an emergency room physician at Broward General Hospital. Then in 1957, Dr. Reynolds became one of the first women to establish a medical practice in Fort Lauderdale's then newly developing suburb of Plantation, in an office on West Broward Boulevard she shared for many years with partners Mary Rose Siers, M.D., and Kathleen McGrady, M.D.
During her working years, Dr. Reynolds served the Broward County medical community in many capacities. She was a volunteer pediatric consultant at the Cerebral Palsy Clinic, Easter Seal Clinic, Mental Hygiene Clinic, and the Pediatric Care Center. She worked with the Community Service Council to establish Twig House for emotionally disturbed children. Dr. Reynolds also served on the board of directors for numerous organizations, including the American Lung Association, Child Advocacy, Inc., the Early Childhood Development Association, the Cerebral Palsy and Vocational Rehabilitation Center, the Broward County Hearing and Speech Association, the Florida Society for the Prevention of Blindness, and Kids in Distress. After retiring from medical practice in 1973, Dr. Reynolds taught at Broward Community College for three years as department head of the Emerging Allied Health Technologies program and another three years at Nova University as a professor in the Behavioral Science Institute.
Having witnessed the rapid and often rampant development of south Florida in the 1950s and 1960s, Dr. Reynolds became a bold and outspoken advocate of statewide growth management and environmental regulation. She devoted much time to volunteer work and speaking engagements through her favorite non-profit groups, including the Wild Bird Care Center, the Humane Society, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, The Nature Conservancy, the League of Conservation Voters, and 1000 Friends of Florida. Her commitment to the work of these organizations and other environmental causes led to several leadership positions, including president of the Broward County Audubon Society and board of directors of the Environmental Coalition of Broward County. She was also appointed by county commissioners in 1982 to the Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board on which she served for five years.
Dr. Reynolds died November 7, 2012 at her home at John Knox Village in Pompano Beach. She would have been 95 on November 26. She was survived by Elaine Gavigan, her partner of 52 years, and adopted family members Bob Gavigan, his wife Mary Louise, and sons Robert and Stephen Gavigan.
Prior to World War II, Dr. Reynolds moved to her parents' home state of Maryland and completed a three-year nurse training program at the Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, followed by a post-graduate course in operating room technique at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. From there, she was employed by the Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Ohio.
On December 7, 1941, Dr. Reynolds enlisted in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, as one of many "Pearl Harbor patriots." After training at a number of hospitals in Portsmouth, Virginia, Farragut Naval Training Station, Idaho, and Mare Island Naval Hospital in California, she was assigned to the U.S.S. Bountiful, a Navy hospital ship on which her duties included setting up and supervising the ship's operating room. During her 17-month service in the Pacific, Dr. Reynolds participated in the invasions of Guam, Saipan, Pelelieu, Tinian, Leyte, the Philippine Islands, and Iwo Jima. She left the Navy as Lieutenant, Senior Grade, and was awarded five combat stars and a Pacific Fleet Commendation.
Working as a nurse and using the G.I. Bill, she pursued her dream of becoming a doctor. She entered the University of Maryland's School of Medicine, where she was one of four women in a class of 100 students. Upon completion of her residencies in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Dr. Reynolds joined a private pediatric practice in Cleveland, Ohio, where she remained until 1956, when she relocated to Fort Lauderdale. Dr. Reynolds spent her first year here working as an emergency room physician at Broward General Hospital. Then in 1957, Dr. Reynolds became one of the first women to establish a medical practice in Fort Lauderdale's then newly developing suburb of Plantation, in an office on West Broward Boulevard she shared for many years with partners Mary Rose Siers, M.D., and Kathleen McGrady, M.D.
During her working years, Dr. Reynolds served the Broward County medical community in many capacities. She was a volunteer pediatric consultant at the Cerebral Palsy Clinic, Easter Seal Clinic, Mental Hygiene Clinic, and the Pediatric Care Center. She worked with the Community Service Council to establish Twig House for emotionally disturbed children. Dr. Reynolds also served on the board of directors for numerous organizations, including the American Lung Association, Child Advocacy, Inc., the Early Childhood Development Association, the Cerebral Palsy and Vocational Rehabilitation Center, the Broward County Hearing and Speech Association, the Florida Society for the Prevention of Blindness, and Kids in Distress. After retiring from medical practice in 1973, Dr. Reynolds taught at Broward Community College for three years as department head of the Emerging Allied Health Technologies program and another three years at Nova University as a professor in the Behavioral Science Institute.
Having witnessed the rapid and often rampant development of south Florida in the 1950s and 1960s, Dr. Reynolds became a bold and outspoken advocate of statewide growth management and environmental regulation. She devoted much time to volunteer work and speaking engagements through her favorite non-profit groups, including the Wild Bird Care Center, the Humane Society, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, The Nature Conservancy, the League of Conservation Voters, and 1000 Friends of Florida. Her commitment to the work of these organizations and other environmental causes led to several leadership positions, including president of the Broward County Audubon Society and board of directors of the Environmental Coalition of Broward County. She was also appointed by county commissioners in 1982 to the Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board on which she served for five years.
Dr. Reynolds died November 7, 2012 at her home at John Knox Village in Pompano Beach. She would have been 95 on November 26. She was survived by Elaine Gavigan, her partner of 52 years, and adopted family members Bob Gavigan, his wife Mary Louise, and sons Robert and Stephen Gavigan.
Georgia Reynolds was born and raised in the Republic of Panama, the younger of two daughters of parents Irene Coarts and Thomas Michael Reynolds. Dr. Reynolds grew up at Balboa Heights, Canal Zone (near Panama City), where her father was a canal zone railroad station manager. She was educated at U.S. government schools including the Canal Zone Junior College. Growing up in Panama, Dr. Reynolds became fluent in Spanish.
Prior to World War II, Dr. Reynolds moved to her parents' home state of Maryland and completed a three-year nurse training program at the Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, followed by a post-graduate course in operating room technique at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. From there, she was employed by the Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Ohio.
On December 7, 1941, Dr. Reynolds enlisted in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, as one of many "Pearl Harbor patriots." After training at a number of hospitals in Portsmouth, Virginia, Farragut Naval Training Station, Idaho, and Mare Island Naval Hospital in California, she was assigned to the U.S.S. Bountiful, a Navy hospital ship on which her duties included setting up and supervising the ship's operating room. During her 17-month service in the Pacific, Dr. Reynolds participated in the invasions of Guam, Saipan, Pelelieu, Tinian, Leyte, the Philippine Islands, and Iwo Jima. She left the Navy as Lieutenant, Senior Grade, and was awarded five combat stars and a Pacific Fleet Commendation.
Working as a nurse and using the G.I. Bill, she pursued her dream of becoming a doctor. She entered the University of Maryland's School of Medicine, where she was one of four women in a class of 100 students. Upon completion of her residencies in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Dr. Reynolds joined a private pediatric practice in Cleveland, Ohio, where she remained until 1956, when she relocated to Fort Lauderdale. Dr. Reynolds spent her first year here working as an emergency room physician at Broward General Hospital. Then in 1957, Dr. Reynolds became one of the first women to establish a medical practice in Fort Lauderdale's then newly developing suburb of Plantation, in an office on West Broward Boulevard she shared for many years with partners Mary Rose Siers, M.D., and Kathleen McGrady, M.D.
During her working years, Dr. Reynolds served the Broward County medical community in many capacities. She was a volunteer pediatric consultant at the Cerebral Palsy Clinic, Easter Seal Clinic, Mental Hygiene Clinic, and the Pediatric Care Center. She worked with the Community Service Council to establish Twig House for emotionally disturbed children. Dr. Reynolds also served on the board of directors for numerous organizations, including the American Lung Association, Child Advocacy, Inc., the Early Childhood Development Association, the Cerebral Palsy and Vocational Rehabilitation Center, the Broward County Hearing and Speech Association, the Florida Society for the Prevention of Blindness, and Kids in Distress. After retiring from medical practice in 1973, Dr. Reynolds taught at Broward Community College for three years as department head of the Emerging Allied Health Technologies program and another three years at Nova University as a professor in the Behavioral Science Institute.
Having witnessed the rapid and often rampant development of south Florida in the 1950s and 1960s, Dr. Reynolds became a bold and outspoken advocate of statewide growth management and environmental regulation. She devoted much time to volunteer work and speaking engagements through her favorite non-profit groups, including the Wild Bird Care Center, the Humane Society, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, The Nature Conservancy, the League of Conservation Voters, and 1000 Friends of Florida. Her commitment to the work of these organizations and other environmental causes led to several leadership positions, including president of the Broward County Audubon Society and board of directors of the Environmental Coalition of Broward County. She was also appointed by county commissioners in 1982 to the Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board on which she served for five years.
Dr. Reynolds died November 7, 2012 at her home at John Knox Village in Pompano Beach. She would have been 95 on November 26. She was survived by Elaine Gavigan, her partner of 52 years, and adopted family members Bob Gavigan, his wife Mary Louise, and sons Robert and Stephen Gavigan.
Prior to World War II, Dr. Reynolds moved to her parents' home state of Maryland and completed a three-year nurse training program at the Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, followed by a post-graduate course in operating room technique at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. From there, she was employed by the Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Ohio.
On December 7, 1941, Dr. Reynolds enlisted in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, as one of many "Pearl Harbor patriots." After training at a number of hospitals in Portsmouth, Virginia, Farragut Naval Training Station, Idaho, and Mare Island Naval Hospital in California, she was assigned to the U.S.S. Bountiful, a Navy hospital ship on which her duties included setting up and supervising the ship's operating room. During her 17-month service in the Pacific, Dr. Reynolds participated in the invasions of Guam, Saipan, Pelelieu, Tinian, Leyte, the Philippine Islands, and Iwo Jima. She left the Navy as Lieutenant, Senior Grade, and was awarded five combat stars and a Pacific Fleet Commendation.
Working as a nurse and using the G.I. Bill, she pursued her dream of becoming a doctor. She entered the University of Maryland's School of Medicine, where she was one of four women in a class of 100 students. Upon completion of her residencies in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Dr. Reynolds joined a private pediatric practice in Cleveland, Ohio, where she remained until 1956, when she relocated to Fort Lauderdale. Dr. Reynolds spent her first year here working as an emergency room physician at Broward General Hospital. Then in 1957, Dr. Reynolds became one of the first women to establish a medical practice in Fort Lauderdale's then newly developing suburb of Plantation, in an office on West Broward Boulevard she shared for many years with partners Mary Rose Siers, M.D., and Kathleen McGrady, M.D.
During her working years, Dr. Reynolds served the Broward County medical community in many capacities. She was a volunteer pediatric consultant at the Cerebral Palsy Clinic, Easter Seal Clinic, Mental Hygiene Clinic, and the Pediatric Care Center. She worked with the Community Service Council to establish Twig House for emotionally disturbed children. Dr. Reynolds also served on the board of directors for numerous organizations, including the American Lung Association, Child Advocacy, Inc., the Early Childhood Development Association, the Cerebral Palsy and Vocational Rehabilitation Center, the Broward County Hearing and Speech Association, the Florida Society for the Prevention of Blindness, and Kids in Distress. After retiring from medical practice in 1973, Dr. Reynolds taught at Broward Community College for three years as department head of the Emerging Allied Health Technologies program and another three years at Nova University as a professor in the Behavioral Science Institute.
Having witnessed the rapid and often rampant development of south Florida in the 1950s and 1960s, Dr. Reynolds became a bold and outspoken advocate of statewide growth management and environmental regulation. She devoted much time to volunteer work and speaking engagements through her favorite non-profit groups, including the Wild Bird Care Center, the Humane Society, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, The Nature Conservancy, the League of Conservation Voters, and 1000 Friends of Florida. Her commitment to the work of these organizations and other environmental causes led to several leadership positions, including president of the Broward County Audubon Society and board of directors of the Environmental Coalition of Broward County. She was also appointed by county commissioners in 1982 to the Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board on which she served for five years.
Dr. Reynolds died November 7, 2012 at her home at John Knox Village in Pompano Beach. She would have been 95 on November 26. She was survived by Elaine Gavigan, her partner of 52 years, and adopted family members Bob Gavigan, his wife Mary Louise, and sons Robert and Stephen Gavigan.
Gravesite Details
Ashes to be interred within partner Elaine Gavigan's casket.
