Mary Lou Pursell was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut. She graduated from Hillhouse High School in 1946, and enjoyed a long and successful career in the field of nursing. She died on September 3, 2009. To honor her memory, her family established a scholarship fund in her name. We award a scholarship every year to a graduating senior from Hillhouse High School (her alma mater) who is pursuing a college degree in the nursing field.