Unionists join the family members and friends mourning the death of Brookhaven Memorial Hospital nurse Judy Hatton Dec. 28. She died in a car accident on icy roads en route to work on Long Island.

Hatton was an active member of NYSUT's statewide Health Care Professionals Council.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Judy Hatton," said NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue. "Judy served on the Health Care Professionals Council for more than five years and was a great advocate for nursing issues."

Anne Goldman, who chairs the health council, praised and thanked Hatton before holding a moment of silence for her at the January meeting, the first since Hatton's death.

"She made tireless efforts on behalf of nurses and the Health Care Professionals Council," Goldman said. "It was obvious at every meeting. She had a gentle but firm way of interacting and respectfully offered her insights. She shared a mutual concern to make a difference."

Hatton worked as an RN for more than 12 years at Brookhaven Memorial, where she was a member of the Brookhaven Memorial Federation of Nurses and Health Care Professionals. She was a member of the hospital's Surgical Intensive Care Unit team.

Barbara Napoli, president of the Brookhaven Memorial FNHCP who knew Hatton for years, worked with Hatton in SICU, where, she said, she convinced her to run for office. "Once she became more involved, she became the organizer and participated in many union activities ... Judy was my right hand in the union. She was my friend who I could call on at any time and oft times did. She will be missed by me, her family and many friends who loved her and cared about her."

Napoli noted that "Judy's great love was her family."

Hatton is survived by her husband, Hugh, and children Courtney, Christopher and Nickalas.