Robert V. Piemonte, EdD, RN, CAE, FAAN, former executive director of the National Student Nurses' Association, died from COVID-19 on April 21 in New York City. Piemonte, born in 1934, graduated from Pilgrim State Hospital School of Nursing and earned a bachelor of science degree from Long Island University, and master of arts, master of education, and doctor of education degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Piemonte held many elected leadership positions in professional organizations, among them president of the American Nurses Foundation, the New York Society of Association Executives, the New York State Nurses Association, and Nurses House. He served as chief nurse of the U.S. Army 8th Medical Unit, assistant director of nursing at New York University Medical Center, and director of nursing at Gouverneur Hospital in New York City. The major focus of his professional career was nursing organizations. He was executive director of the New Jersey State Nurses Association and director of the American Nurses Association's nursing services department and its house, board, and cabinet affairs division. In 1985, Piemonte was appointed executive director of the National Student Nurses' Association, a position from which he retired in 1996.
In recognition of his commitment to excellence in the profession and his tireless, dedicated leadership, Piemonte earned numerous awards and was named a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing in 2008. He was inducted into the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame in 2014.
Piemonte was devoted to mentoring and encouraging nursing colleagues and students. As executive director of the National Student Nurses' Association, he said, "I saw the need for the preprofessional organization to prepare its members for leadership roles in the professional nursing organizations." Countless colleagues credit Piemonte with promoting their career growth and professional development. He will be sorely missed, but his legacy of extraordinary leadership will continue to advance his beloved profession.-Diane Mancino, EdD, RN, CAE, FAAN, executive director, National Student Nurses' Association, and Cathryne Welch, EdD, RN, Foundation of New York State Nurses (retired)