Anita Hagin

On April 4, 2024, Anita D. Hagin, 65, of Baltimore, tragically and suddenly passed away. Anita was the beloved wife of James W. Hagin, Jr; devoted mother of Kevin A. Hagin and Adam R. Hagin and his partner Rachel; dear sister of Paula Darrah, Diane Darrah and her husband Mitch, and Janet Darrah and her partner Patrick; brother-in-law of Walter LaPlante; aunt of Grace Darrah, David and James LaPlante.

A Baltimorean through and through, Anita was a proud graduate of St. Dominic School, Institute of Notre Dame High School (IND), Towson University, and the University of Maryland. Anita loved to volunteer as a Calvert Hall mom when Adam and Kevin were students. Her IND family meant so much to her and she made the New York City bus trips and the Alumnae Association fundraisers memorable for all who attended, especially if anyone caught her in action when it was her turn to run the plant wheel at the crab feast. Most recently, she attended the 2024 St. Patrick’s Day parade in Baltimore. After posing for a photo with the Baltimore Orioles Bird, Anita proudly helped hold the IND Alumnae Association banner as she and other alumnae marched in the parade.

Anita and Jim met as high school students when they were both at a Calvert Hall mixer. Anita and Jim instantly hit it off. It was 1975, Anita was 16 and Jim was 17. Their relationship grew from a high school romance to a love affair and a marriage of 43 years. Anita’s pride and joy were her “boys”: Jim, Adam, and Kevin. She kept her sons in line even when they were so tall she had to look up at them to deliver her maternal wisdom. Anita may have been slight of stature, but she always made herself heard. On more than one occasion at her sons’ soccer games, her passionate sideline “coaching” could be heard across the arena.

Anita was the best big sister anyone would ever want. She was always a role model for her sisters to follow, whether it was adherence to family rules when they were kids (and whose turn it was to do a family chore), or how to handle the difficult times in their adult lives with grace and equanimity. Anita shared the good times with them too. She was a good listener, a great supporter, and always gave her sisters a straight answer that she delivered compassionately. Anita accepted each sister’s unique personality and respected their paths in life.

From the earliest days of her career as a nurse, Anita demonstrated compassion, dedication, and devotion both to those under her care and her hospital colleagues. A colleague at Sheppard Pratt Hospital was kind enough to share the following thoughts about Anita. “She was loved…and made such an impact in so many ways. She was my battle buddy—that person I always relied on to be the support/balance/cheerleader/counterpoint.” She was that and more for so many. Another long-time colleague noted that he loved working with her and “She never hesitated to tell me what to do and how to do it. She was an expert in patient care, and I often bounced ideas off her for her seasoned input. She had a personality that was one of a kind and will be greatly missed by many.” Anita found purpose in caring for her patients and supporting her colleagues in her 45-year career. Anita’s work badge had the following statement on it: “If I see something, I say something. I’m ready to step up and step in.” While we will not know for sure, those who know her are convinced that the hospital came up with that slogan after meeting Anita.

Anita expanded her dedication to nursing when she began her journey as an educator. In 2022, she became an adjunct faculty member at multiple Community Colleges throughout Maryland. She taught clinical courses for psychiatric nursing and led students through hospitals to learn with hands-on experience in patient care. This vocation was a perfect marriage of her skills as a caretaker and role model. Her strengths as a nurse will be carried forward by her students for years and decades to come.

Anita and Jim enjoyed traveling across the United States. They traveled to more than twenty states. They loved their Alaska cruise with friends. The hiking trips she took with her family in the Southwest enabled her to combine her love of the outdoors with the love of her family. There was not a steep hiking trail, underwater canyon, or whitewater river run from which she would turn away. Anita was an expert travel organizer for the annual Outer Banks trips she planned for the family. She had a great time “shopping” for our vacation rental home, so long as it had a glamorous kitchen, built-in pool, hot tub, plenty of bedrooms, a great view, and a place to put the kayaks and the inflatable boat in the water. Anita was the first in the water to boogie board and body surf the ‘tasty’ waves.

Anita expanded her travel horizons to include adventurous trips to far-off countries. She and Jim went around the world with their family, including the UK, Ireland, Costa Rica, Belize, Italy, and the Philippines. One favorite memory of the trip to Costa Rica was when the road was washed out and the jeep could not make it any farther. That was not a problem for the intrepid Anita. She pulled herself across the road, water up to her waist, fearlessly grabbing the rope provided by the resort staff. On her “milestone” birthday trip to Greece in 2023, Anita, Jim, Adam, Rachel, and Kevin experienced the wonders of Athens and the fun and “healing powers” of mastiha (a local aperitif) in the Greek Islands. While Anita had not yet taken the family to Poland, she was proud of her Polish heritage and enjoyed Polish traditions. She loved Polish pottery, was the first one to kick off the singing of “Sto Lat” at family birthday celebrations, and every so often enjoyed a delicious sip of Krupnik (a Polish aperitif).

Anita made friends wherever she went. It was her superpower to reach out, make connections, and nurture those connections into friendships. The connections she made were most felt by her family. As her family eventually spread across the country, she stayed connected by learning more about each community in which they lived. Anita will be forever remembered for her energetic spirit, enduring love, kindness, strength, and humility.

Family and friends will honor and celebrate Anita's life at the Evans Life Celebration Home, 8800 Harford Road, Parkville, MD, on Saturday, April 13, 2024, from 6-9 P.M. and Sunday, April 14, 2024, from 2-4 & 7-9 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 9:00 A.M. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 8501 Loch Raven Boulevard, Towson, MD. Interment private.

If desired, contributions may be made to IND Alumnae Association, 722 Dulaney Valley Road, Suite 129, Towson, MD 21204 or at https://www.indalumnae.org/.

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