Kathleen Nowak Bondy

Dr. Kathleen Ann Nowak Bondy passed away on January 17, 2026 at St. Ann’s Home in Grand Rapids, MI.  Kathleen was born in South Bend, IN to Edward F. Nowak and Helen Isabel Nowak on April 1, 1942. She married Warren H. Bondy in 1973. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother Paul Edward Nowak, Sr. She is survived by her sister, Anita Nowak, and her brother's children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild. 

A distinguished academic and leader in nursing education, Dr. Bondy gained national and international recognition. She created the Bondy Criterion Matrix for Clinical Nursing Evaluation, also known as the Bondy Scale, one of the first standardized tools for the clinical evaluation of nursing students. 

She obtained her BSN in 1966 from St. Louis University, her MS in 1970 from Boston University, and her Ph.D. in 1976 from New York University. She also completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Rehabilitation Research at the University of Pittsburgh in 1993. She was a professor of Nursing at Adelphi University, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Central Arkansas. Through her extensive publications, research, workshops, and presentations, she significantly advanced the practice and scholarship of nursing education.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Kathleen was an avid reader and lover of books, known for joyfully sharing her passion with others. She was also deeply engaged in Catholic parish life, especially in ministries dedicated to Adult Faith Formation and Catholic Education.

Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor’s choice. 

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