Obituary for Elaine "Cissy" Musselman
Elaine “Cissy” Musselman, age 79, left this world to join her Heavenly Father on March 8th, 2023,
surrounded by her loving family and caregivers at Nazareth Home on International Women’s Day. Cissy was born in Louisville, Kentucky to David Shelley Musselman and Elaine Gifford Musselman, on September 28th, 1943.
Cissy was predeceased by her parents, as well as her “special brother” Robert “Buzzy” Musselman; and her niece, Sara Brown Musselman. Left to cherish her memory are her sister, Anne Lee Blair (David); her brothers, Thomas Anthony Musselman (Barbara Nichols), David Shelley Musselman Jr., William Austin Musselman (Shannon); and many nieces and nephews. Thomas A. Musselman Jr. (Amber), Sharron Musselman Marcum (Michael), Chester Watkins Musselman (Joanne), Catherine Blair Gibson (Alan), David Blair Jr., Elizabeth Blair Cole (Tom), Jane Blair Sickles (Greg), John Michael Musselman, Joan Musselman Salsburg (Nathan), Elaine Gifford Musselman, William Austin Musselman Jr. (Janie).
Cissy was a lifelong Catholic and member of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish. She attended Saint Francis of Assisi Parochial School, grades 1-8; while there she became involved with the American Junior Red Cross, and this was the beginning of her life of service and philanthropy. Cissy attended Sacred Heart Academy, grades 9-12; she was an all-star athlete; swimming, playing basketball and field hockey. Cissy had 100% game attendance, carrying her enthusiasm and wonderful spirit everywhere and leading the student body. Always a leader, Cissy was Student Council President her senior year at SHA and representative her freshman and junior year. Cissy was very involved in the Red Cross Club; her passion for these interests carried her into many civic activities and her business career later in life. She never lost her luster for SHA and was a life-long cheerleader, raising countless dollars for others to attend. She received the Hall of Fame Award, served on the SHA Alumni Board and was Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 1982. Cissy also served on the JFLI (Jean Frazier Leadership Institute), a special Institute consisting of the most prestigious alumni from all over the country who mentor young students about leadership, business, educational goals, and service. Cissy attended Dunbarton College in Washington D.C. and became a board member of the National American Red Cross. She graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Arts and Political Science, where she received the Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Louisville, School of Arts and Sciences.
She was a former member of the University of Louisville Board of Trustees. Cissy was a gregarious and very “special” individual; she was a beloved sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She was an incredible person, athletic, talented, determined, accomplished and compassionate. She was a member of Harmony Landing Country Club, and an accomplished golfer, making a multitude of friends all over the world. She was a supporter, a contributor, a connector, and a philanthropist. Her professional career began in the Government Relations Office of Bristol-Myers Company in Washington D.C., she was President & Vice President of local insurance company Harris & Co., Senior Vice President of Alexander & Alexander and formed Connor, Musselman & Calvert. She later joined Neace, Musselman and Mayfield as President. She was Vice Chair of Risk Management Services Company (RMSC) of Louisville. Cissy became one of the first insurance brokers in the United States to be computer linked with the floor of Lloyd’s of London. She was awarded the Top Women Business Owners Award, Louisville Chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners. Cissy’s associations and awards have included directorships, bank & corporate boards, business and civic organizations and non-profit involvements. She chaired many fund-raising campaigns for various organizations. Cissy was a champion for women; her legacy will be remembered for her impact on others far and wide. Cissy was passionate and proud to be founder of Women 4 Women, Inc., a non-profit organization, whose mission is to raise money and public awareness for programs serving women and girls. Cissy chaired Benchmark 2000, a project dedicated to the challenge of mobilizing public and private resources to identify and meet the priority needs of women and girls in her community at the millennium. Cissy received numerous awards for the spirit of caring, public service and philanthropic innovation. She won the Community & Non-Profits Most Admired Woman Award from Today’s Woman magazine. The family would like to thank the staff and all her loving caregivers at Nazareth Home, especially Program Director Anne Dreisbach, Maggie, Father Jerry Eiffler and Sister Serra, as well as her family, and multitude of cherished friends, who so kindly visited her during her time at Nazareth Home. We will miss her enormous heart and passion for all she has been involved with throughout her life; may she rest in peace.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. Monday, March 13th, 2023 at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Rd. A funeral Mass will be held to honor Cissy on Tuesday, March 14th at 11 a.m. at Saint Francis of Assisi Church, 1960 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40205; officiated by Father John Burke, with a private burial to follow. Cissy will be laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery.
The family requests that expressions of sympathy or memorial tributes be made in the form of donations to Sacred Heart Academy, 3115 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40206 or University of Louisville Elaine Cissy Musselman Endowment University of Louisville Fairfax Bldg. 2323 S. Brook Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40292.
"The root of happiness is altruism-the wish to be of service to others."
-Dalai Lama
surrounded by her loving family and caregivers at Nazareth Home on International Women’s Day. Cissy was born in Louisville, Kentucky to David Shelley Musselman and Elaine Gifford Musselman, on September 28th, 1943.
Cissy was predeceased by her parents, as well as her “special brother” Robert “Buzzy” Musselman; and her niece, Sara Brown Musselman. Left to cherish her memory are her sister, Anne Lee Blair (David); her brothers, Thomas Anthony Musselman (Barbara Nichols), David Shelley Musselman Jr., William Austin Musselman (Shannon); and many nieces and nephews. Thomas A. Musselman Jr. (Amber), Sharron Musselman Marcum (Michael), Chester Watkins Musselman (Joanne), Catherine Blair Gibson (Alan), David Blair Jr., Elizabeth Blair Cole (Tom), Jane Blair Sickles (Greg), John Michael Musselman, Joan Musselman Salsburg (Nathan), Elaine Gifford Musselman, William Austin Musselman Jr. (Janie).
Cissy was a lifelong Catholic and member of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish. She attended Saint Francis of Assisi Parochial School, grades 1-8; while there she became involved with the American Junior Red Cross, and this was the beginning of her life of service and philanthropy. Cissy attended Sacred Heart Academy, grades 9-12; she was an all-star athlete; swimming, playing basketball and field hockey. Cissy had 100% game attendance, carrying her enthusiasm and wonderful spirit everywhere and leading the student body. Always a leader, Cissy was Student Council President her senior year at SHA and representative her freshman and junior year. Cissy was very involved in the Red Cross Club; her passion for these interests carried her into many civic activities and her business career later in life. She never lost her luster for SHA and was a life-long cheerleader, raising countless dollars for others to attend. She received the Hall of Fame Award, served on the SHA Alumni Board and was Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 1982. Cissy also served on the JFLI (Jean Frazier Leadership Institute), a special Institute consisting of the most prestigious alumni from all over the country who mentor young students about leadership, business, educational goals, and service. Cissy attended Dunbarton College in Washington D.C. and became a board member of the National American Red Cross. She graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Arts and Political Science, where she received the Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Louisville, School of Arts and Sciences.
She was a former member of the University of Louisville Board of Trustees. Cissy was a gregarious and very “special” individual; she was a beloved sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She was an incredible person, athletic, talented, determined, accomplished and compassionate. She was a member of Harmony Landing Country Club, and an accomplished golfer, making a multitude of friends all over the world. She was a supporter, a contributor, a connector, and a philanthropist. Her professional career began in the Government Relations Office of Bristol-Myers Company in Washington D.C., she was President & Vice President of local insurance company Harris & Co., Senior Vice President of Alexander & Alexander and formed Connor, Musselman & Calvert. She later joined Neace, Musselman and Mayfield as President. She was Vice Chair of Risk Management Services Company (RMSC) of Louisville. Cissy became one of the first insurance brokers in the United States to be computer linked with the floor of Lloyd’s of London. She was awarded the Top Women Business Owners Award, Louisville Chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners. Cissy’s associations and awards have included directorships, bank & corporate boards, business and civic organizations and non-profit involvements. She chaired many fund-raising campaigns for various organizations. Cissy was a champion for women; her legacy will be remembered for her impact on others far and wide. Cissy was passionate and proud to be founder of Women 4 Women, Inc., a non-profit organization, whose mission is to raise money and public awareness for programs serving women and girls. Cissy chaired Benchmark 2000, a project dedicated to the challenge of mobilizing public and private resources to identify and meet the priority needs of women and girls in her community at the millennium. Cissy received numerous awards for the spirit of caring, public service and philanthropic innovation. She won the Community & Non-Profits Most Admired Woman Award from Today’s Woman magazine. The family would like to thank the staff and all her loving caregivers at Nazareth Home, especially Program Director Anne Dreisbach, Maggie, Father Jerry Eiffler and Sister Serra, as well as her family, and multitude of cherished friends, who so kindly visited her during her time at Nazareth Home. We will miss her enormous heart and passion for all she has been involved with throughout her life; may she rest in peace.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. Monday, March 13th, 2023 at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Rd. A funeral Mass will be held to honor Cissy on Tuesday, March 14th at 11 a.m. at Saint Francis of Assisi Church, 1960 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40205; officiated by Father John Burke, with a private burial to follow. Cissy will be laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery.
The family requests that expressions of sympathy or memorial tributes be made in the form of donations to Sacred Heart Academy, 3115 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40206 or University of Louisville Elaine Cissy Musselman Endowment University of Louisville Fairfax Bldg. 2323 S. Brook Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40292.
"The root of happiness is altruism-the wish to be of service to others."
-Dalai Lama