Thomas Nehring, 58, died Jan. 20 in Albuquerque, N.M. He was recently named chief mission officer for the newly merged Provena Health-Resurrection Health Care in Chicago.
"We are shocked and saddened at the news of Tom Nehring's death," said Brian Yanofchick, CHA senior director of mission integration and leadership development. "We join with his many friends in Catholic health care in holding his family in prayer as they mourn his loss," Yanofchick said.
"Tom was the kind of leader who embodied his commitment to the mission in everything he did. He is a tremendous loss at a critical time for the new ministry," commented Sr. Terry Maltby, RSM, chair of the Provena Resurrection board mission committee.
Nehring majored in psychology and religious studies at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich., and in pastoral studies at Loyola University of Chicago. He earned his master of science in not-for-profit administration at the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business. He was religious studies chair at Regina High School near Detroit for nearly four years and then director of religious education and worship at Immaculate Conception parish in Elmhurst, Ill., for nine years before he joined Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare of Wheaton, Ill., in 1991.
He began his Wheaton career as vice president of transformation resources and then served as vice president of mission integration.
In May 2002, Nehring joined Provena Health and in time became senior vice president of mission services. In this role, he helped to integrate Provena's mission, vision and values into that system's culture and supported Provena's advocacy, organizational ethics, community benefit, leadership development and spirituality work. He also served on the staff of the Collaborative Sponsor Formation Program.
Nehring's newest appointment, to the merged system, was announced in September.
Nehring provided consultation to parishes in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. He was board chair of Canticle Ministries in Wheaton; and he was on the board of Will-Grundy Medical Clinic in Joliet, Ill., on an advisory board for Portiuncula Center for Prayer in Frankfort, Ill., and was involved with several CHA committees.
Yanofchick said Nehring commanded the respect of mission leaders across the ministry. "He was a gentle man who provided courageous and insightful leadership throughout his career as a mission leader."
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