Tribute to Alma Mueller

It is with great sadness that I post the obituary of Alma Mueller.  Not only was she an amazingly gentle and wise person but a strong patient advocate and worked tirelessly towards advancing the role of NPs, removing barriers to practice at CVMC.  We will be forever grateful for her contribution to our profession and Alma will will be truly missed. 

Alma Woolsey Mueller (nee Robinson) passed away peacefully at home on January 29, 2014, after a brief and unexpected illness.

Alma Antonette Robinson was born on 1/12/46 in Manhattan, NYC, grew up in St. Albans, Queens (NY) and graduated from the High School of Performing Arts in 1963 with a major in Dance. She embarked on a dancing career with several renowned professional dance companies, including the Martha Graham Dance Company and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Her dance career also included work in the original cast of the musical "Hair" and the Broadway musical "The Wiz", and she was also part of the dance corps in the 1978 film "The Wiz". While pursuing her dancing career, Alma also completed a B.S. in psychology from Hunter College in 1980.

In 1969 Alma married Frank M. Woolsey III, with whom she bore two children: Leila in 1970, Aaron in 1972. Her husband passed away in 1974. Alma met and fell in love with Rolf Mueller in 1978, and they moved together with the children to Vermont from NYC in 1980. Alma taught dance at Johnson State College, enrolled in the nursing program at the University of Vermont (UVM), and married Rolf at their home in Calais in 1985. After completing her B.S.N. in 1987, Alma worked in a variety of healthcare settings, including Central Vermont Hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, and Fletcher Allen Hospital. She loved nursing and also served her community as a home health and hospice nurse, and as a clinical nursing instructor at Norwich University.

In 2002, after receiving her M.S.N. at UVM, Alma became a nurse practitioner and enjoyed working in clinics providing primary care, and treatment for patients dealing with substance addictions. She also worked on the psychiatric unit at Central Vermont Hospital.

While Alma put a lot of dedication into her nursing work, she was also devoted and dedicated to her family and friends. Alma loved knitting, cooking, reading, singing, grooving to good music, traveling to the West Coast to visit her children and grandchildren, taking long country drives with her husband, and especially sharing hearty laughs with friends, family, patients she took care of, and staff she worked with.

Alma is survived by her husband Rolf, her children Leila and Aaron, daughter-in-law Shanthi, granddaughters Luna and Willow, siblings Olivine, Warren, Flenzy, Dennis, and Elizabeth, and several nieces and nephews.

Alma's family is planning a memorial celebration of her life in the Spring of 2014. Alma was a long time volunteer at the People's Health and Wellness Clinic, which provides free care for uninsured and under insured Central Vermont residents, and she was also a member of the clinic's Board. Alma cared passionately about providing great care for all her patients and was a strong advocate for quality healthcare accessibility for all. Memorial donations in memory of Alma can be sent to the People's Health and Wellness Clinic, 553 North Main St., Barre, VT 05641