Alice Anne Thaddia Harsh

Alice Anne Thaddia Harsh, 74, of Albuquerque, passed away at her home on 31 March after declining health related to Type 1 diabetes, cancer, and Long COVID.

Alice was born 11 July 1949 to Robert and Marjorie (Shean) Harsh in Silver City, NM and spent her early years in Gila, NM near the Rosedale Dairy family farm. She was preceded in death by her parents and 2 siblings. She is survived by her sister, Cecily (husband Julio), nephew and niece Nicolas and Marina Gutierrez-Harsh and extended family.

She earned a BA with a double major in English Literature/American History and a BS and MS in Nursing from the University of New Mexico. Past memberships included Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, American Diabetes Association, American Association of Diabetes Educators, American Association of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses, and Association of Clinical Research Professionals.

Alice was a very independent person strengthened by her connection to others. She leaves behind cherished friends who shared her passions and her struggles, respected colleagues with whom she continuously grew, and kind neighbors and others, such as her trusted veterinarian, who provided support in so many ways. Alice was extremely grateful for her dedicated medical team as renowned experts, professional collaborators, and compassionate advocates.

Prior to the miraculous results from the discovery of insulin in 1921 and development of insulin therapy in 1922, the onset of Type 1 diabetes led to death within two years for half the patients and 90% died within 5 years. In 2013, Alice received the Joslin Diabetes Center and Eli Lilly Fifty Year Medals for 50 years of living with insulin dependent diabetes. Just over 5000 medals have been awarded world-wide since 1970. Alice was strongly committed to contributing to advancements in diabetes care and knowledge. As a registered nurse, she worked several years in clinical research and diabetes education and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. As a diabetic, she participated in many research studies including, in 1981, becoming the first woman to receive a variable rate implanted insulin pump developed by Sandia Labs/UNM School of Medicine.

Alice was a lifelong learner and a prolific reader with many interests. She maintained a vast collection of books on writing, cooking, gardening, medical science, art, history, animals, legal fiction, and humor. Favorite authors included William Blake, Mark Twain, e.e.cummings, Peter de Vries, Oliver Sacks, Graham Greene, Linwood Barclay, David McCullough, Flaubert, Tolstoy, Dante, and Virgil. She had an appreciation of many music genres from classical to classic country and classic rock, and she especially enjoyed songs from musical theater. She volunteered at Animal Humane and over the years adopted and fostered many cats in need. She warmed her home with photos, family heirlooms, and art while creating a tranquil outdoor space with many native plants as well as roses, iris, lilacs, hollyhocks, poppies, lavender, and chocolate flowers. Her pollinator garden included hummingbird and butterfly bushes and she often grew a vegetable and herb garden with tomatoes, bell peppers, squash, rosemary, oregano and enjoyed fruit from her peach and Asian pear trees. She loved the soothing sounds of her wind chimes as she tended to her garden.

In accordance with her wishes, Alice was cremated and her ashes will be returned to the Gila where her journey began. There is a cenotaph that bears her name at Albuquerque's Sunset Memorial Park in the Centennial Urn Garden.

Alice will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched with her intellect, humor, generosity, and courage. She was thankful for the opportunities she had to positively impact others and believed in giving back. If desired, please consider continuing her legacy by donating to or volunteering with organizations supporting diabetes research, animal welfare, or a charity whose mission you embrace.