Jane Maginnis Bloom, MD died September 11, 2022 at the age of 98. She was born in Ithaca, New York on June 22, 1924 to Ernest and Miriam Maginnis. Her father graduated from Cornell University with a degree of veterinary medicine in 1931 and moved the family to Oklahoma. In 1932 her parents purchased 11 acres in Okarche, OK. It was at this location, the Civilian Conservation Corp planted trees alongside the road. As a child Jane and her siblings would keep these trees alive with dish and bath water. In those early years Jane worked as a mother’s aid with a local family, and she often accompanied her father in his duties as a veterinarian. It is during this time Jane developed her interest in medicine and a lifelong love of trees. In the fall of 1943, she enrolled in Oklahoma A&M at Stillwater, OK. There she met her future husband at a United Service Organization function. They were married in Paris, TX on March 31, 1944. William was stationed in Europe until the end of World War II and Jane moved to Detroit, MI to be with his family, eventually moving to a chicken farm outside Ann Arbor. It became evident the inherent difficulties in chicken farming, selling eggs and raising 10 children was not a road to financial success. Her husband Bill returned to work at Park Davis pharmaceutical and a joint decision was made that Jane would return to school.
Her admissions counselor Paul Brubacker noted “She intends to become a physician. Let no one tell her otherwise.” In 1964, Jane first walked through the doors of the newly opened CEW+ (then called the Center for the Continuing Education of Women), she was only the second person to seek assistance. With perseverance and determination, Dr. Bloom completed both an undergraduate and a medical degree at the U-M with the support of CEW navigating the adjustment to the competing demands of family and school and gave her much appreciated financial aid. Throughout it all, Dr. Bloom’s husband Bill, who died in 2011, was a supportive partner. At the time of her graduation CEW said of her;” Jane Bloom is an exceptional person whose life models perseverance and determination.”
Jane was aware despite the advances in the women’s movement and minorities’ movements, there are still difficulties entering the professional fields. “What one needs is a dream and total commitment to that dream. There must be support-from family, friends, and outside sources such as CEW. Mentors are vitally important My models were many: any sex, any race, any age. I grabbed hold of every encouraging encounter. I might never see the person again, but I would cling to the sentiments, attempting to change myself in some small way.” Jane developed her own philosophy of life. “You keep going two steps forward, one back and just do it”
In appreciation Jane and Bill Bloom established the “Jane and Bill Bloom” scholarship in 2007 for undergraduate students on the UM-Ann Arbor campus. With this scholarship, Dr. and Mr. Bloom send two messages to all future recipients to “aim high, raise your sights, and stick with it for a rewarding life and as soon as you can give, give back.”
Her education is as follows: Bachelor of Science (BS) 1968 from the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science and the Arts; Doctor of Medicine (MD) 1974 from the University of Michigan's Medical School; Rotating intern Wayne County General Hospital, Eloise, Michigan, 1974-1975; Resident in internal medicine St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, New York, 1975-1977; Emergency physician Emergency Physicians Medical Group, Ann Arbor, 1986-2003. She was affiliated with the following: Emergency Physicians Med. Group, Ann Arbor, 1986-2003. Fellow: American College Emergency Physicians (lifelong); Member: AMA, Michigan State Medical Society, American College of Physicians, American Medical Women’s Association, American Association of Women Emergency Physicians, Washtenaw County Medical Society; Recognitions: Emergency Physicians Medical Group Loyalty Award 1992; 2014 Medical School Dean James Woolliscroft, M.D., gave Jane a medallion in recognition of her accomplishments as a nontraditional student.
She is predeceased by her husband, William (2011), son Patrick 1986, son David (2021), grandsons Eric (2009) and Ethan (2003), sister Catherine Spink Alexander, (2013), sister Ann Maginnis Seidmen (2017); brother Frank Maginnis (2018); and sister Patricia Maginnis (2021). She is survived by her children, Jan, Carolyn, Eric, Joe, Robert, Mary (aka Miki), Tom, and Arthur; Grandchildren, Ian, Daniel, Elaina, Tanja, Timothy, and Lara. She is also survived by sister Charlotte Mary Palmer, brothers Michael and Paul Maginnis, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Jane’s life will be planned for spring of 2023.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Jane and Bill Bloom Scholarship fund:
https://donate.umich.edu/KnVyv.
If anyone would like to mail a donation please reference “Jane and Bill Bloom Scholarship fund”, they can be sent to: U-M CEW+ Attn: A. Marting, 330 E. Liberty Street, floor 2, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2274