Deaths: Margaret Hastings

Margaret ‘Pat’ Mitchell Hastings, a former faculty member in the School of Public Health, died Dec. 25, 2017, after a long illness. She was 80.

She founded and directed the dual-degree MPH/MBA program at UIC and was professor of in health policy and administration from 1986 to 1993.

She dedicated her life to the study of developmental disabilities, mental health and aging. She was well known as a thought leader who inspired others with her innovative and forward-thinking solutions.

Hastings received her bachelor’s in music from Wellesley College in 1958, master’s in education from National Louis University in 1972, and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Northwestern University in 1975.

She was director of the Center for Learning and on the graduate faculty at National College from 1971–1976, and executive director of the Illinois Commission on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities from 1976–1985.

In 1995 and 2005, she represented the Illinois area at the White House Conference on Aging in Washington, D.C.

Her biggest passion was music. She loved playing, composing, performing and listening to music. She was an expert pianist with perfect pitch and the ability to play what was in her head in any key.

She volunteering regularly and was a member of the Ravinia Women’s Board for more than 40 years. Her other passion was discussion groups at Winnetka Congregational Church and Northwestern University.

She is survived by her husband, Robert A. Hastings; two children, William H. Hastings and M. Margaret ‘Margo’ Georgiadis; six grandchildren, and other relatives.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Interment is private in the Winnetka Congregational Churchyard. For more information, visit donnellanfuneral.com or call 847-675-1990.