Pamela Susan-Xichel Cairns Chicago, Illinois Obituary

Pamela Susan-Xichel Cairns

Pamela Susan-Xichel Cairns died peacefully at home in Chicago on Sunday, November 11 at age 61. She had dedicated her professional life to addressing health and social service needs of the low-income communities. She led a life of passion, courage, and commitment to the concerns and needs of women, and to social justice and doing what was right. She was creative, compassionate, innovative, determined, ahead of her time, practical, and, above all, authentic. Pam brought the same resolve and passion to her six-month struggle with brain cancer that she brought to every other engagement of her life. She used the time and energy available to her to encourage open and honest communications among family members, colleagues, and friends. She was determined to find opportunity in her condition, and to leave nothing unaddressed, if not resolved. It was a remarkable last chapter. She received her Master’s Degree in Health Services Administration at The Ohio State University in 1998, then served in the Northwestern Medicine Administrative Fellow’s program under the mentorship of then CEO Gary Meklenburg. She became the President and CEO of Erie Family Health Centers in 1999 and served until 2006. “Under Pam’s leadership, Erie Family Health Centers nearly doubled the number of patients served from 18,000 to almost 30,000, opened new sites, upgraded others and offered new services such as dental care,” said Lee Francis the organization’s current chief executive. “Pam was always focused on providing high quality care, regardless of insurance status or the ability to pay.” In 2010, she founded and served as President and CEO of Leading Healthy Futures, a consulting company focused on assisting non-profit organizations and partnerships in health services in strategic planning, fundraising, executive training, and financial management in their efforts to meet the needs of the low-income community. Pat Marshall, President of the consulting practice SynerChange stated, “Pam started as a client and over the years became a colleague and good friend. She was one of the most intellectually challenging and strategic thinking individuals I have known. She had a way of broadening everyone’s perspective because of her ability to see beyond the here and now, or what may have seemed obvious. Her commitment to the underserved populations and social justice was demonstrated in the work she did and the values she held. Her skill and vision are reflected in the continuation of Leading Healthy Futures as a company that will continue to serve the communities that Pam treasured the most.” Pam was born on March 26, 1957 in Columbus, Ohio and grew up in Cleveland/Shaker Heights. She started her career as a student in documentary film at New York University. Opportunities drew her to Mexico where she lived for five years editing film and serving as a translator. She was known to her friends by her nickname Xichel—the Mayan Goddess of the moon, fertility, and the healing arts. During her time in Mexico, she married and gave birth to her daughter, Emily Batun. She later moved to Columbus, Ohio and resumed her studies. In 2011, she married Dan Swinney. Together they honeymooned in Tasmania, canoed in British Columbia, fished and camped in the Boundary Waters in Minnesota, kayaked on the Maine coast, did the Chicago Triathlon, skied in Wyoming, toured in South Africa, snorkeled in Hawaii, and studied cooperatives in Scotland and Cuba. Pam loved adventure. In addition to her husband Dan, and daughter Emily, who lives in Columbus, Ohio; Pam is survived by son-in-law Mark Mudarth, and grandson Owen Mudarth; her father Don Cairns and his wife Alice Cairns who live in Cleveland, Ohio; her mother Davida Steinbrink who lives in Seneca, South Carolina; her brother Doug Cairns and his wife Angie Cairns who live in Seattle, Washington; her brother Tim Cairns and fiancé Kellie Steiner who live in Portland, Oregon; her sister Heather Cairns and wife Ann Barton who live in Columbia, South Carolina; and many nieces and nephews. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In her honor, please make a contribution to the charity of your choice that serves low-income communities, women’s rights, community development, social inclusion, and/or social justice. Or you can make a contribution to the Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital by going to the link: https://foundation.nmh.org/nbtigiving
March 26, 1957 - November 11, 201803/26/195711/11/2018
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November 18, 2018
Written in the Stars

Written in the Stars was purchased for the family of Pamela Susan-Xichel Cairns. Send flowers