Obituary: Janet Ann Leifur, Longtime Nurse and Educator, Dies at 75

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Janet Ann Dobson Leifur, a longtime nurse and nursing professor, died on February 10, 2026, in San Francisco at the age of 75. Leifur had a distinguished career in nursing, working as a registered nurse at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, California, before becoming a nursing professor at Ventura College, where she taught for 10 years before retiring in 2007. After retiring, she moved to Ashland, Oregon, to be closer to her siblings, and later relocated to San Francisco to spend more time with her grandchildren.

Why it matters

Leifur's life and career exemplify the dedication and impact that nurses and nursing educators can have on their communities. Her work as a nurse and professor helped shape the next generation of healthcare professionals, and her commitment to the nursing profession is further demonstrated by her establishment of the Winifred Dobson Medal for Academic and Clinical Excellence in Nursing at Ventura College.

The details

Leifur was born in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1950 and grew up in Ventura, California. She met her husband, Gary Gene Leifur, in high school, and they married in 1972. Leifur graduated from Ventura College with an Associate Degree in Nursing in 1972 and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in nursing from California State University Dominguez Hills. She worked as a registered nurse at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard before becoming a nursing professor at Ventura College, where she taught for 10 years until her retirement in 2007.

• Leifur was born on November 20, 1950.
• She graduated from Ventura College with an Associate Degree in Nursing in 1972.
• Leifur married Gary Gene Leifur in 1972.
• She earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in nursing from California State University Dominguez Hills.
• Leifur taught nursing at Ventura College for 10 years, retiring in 2007.