Fall 2002

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Shands’ Marilyn Tubb leads ‘Gator Trails’ project

Marilyn Tubb with "Gene -- the DNA Gator" at Gainesville Regional Airport (Photo by Edward Wells)

by Emily Vass

Although growing up a Gator in Gainesville, Marilyn Little Tubb, MA 1972, never thought she would attend the University of Florida, raise a family and settle in Gainesville.

Tubb is vice president of community affairs for Shands HealthCare and has worked in the health care industry in Gainesville for 26 years.

Tubb graduated from Agnes Scott College in Atlanta with a B.A. in English. She returned to Gainesville to attend UF and earned a master’s degree in communications.

A ticket to being a successful woman in the workforce was having that master’s degree, Tubb said. “That gets you in the door. After that, of course, you have to work hard.”

She became the first female director of communications for the Chamber of Commerce in Gainesville and says it was an eye-opening experience.

She was exposed to a more conservative outlook, unlike her own, and learned to appreciate the importance of local businesses. She grew to love her community more as she put more effort into civic activities.

When Tubb’s first child, Katherine, was born with a number of physical and medical problems called Larsen’s Syndrome, Tubb says her life changed completely.

“From Katherine, I learned about patience and courage,” she says. Tubb says it was fortuitous that she began her career in healthcare the year Katherine was born, as her daughter’s condition required numerous surgeries, and they spent many hours in hospitals and with pediatric specialists.

Tubb worked in public relations for North Florida Regional Medical Center for 13 years and then for Alachua General Hospital and AvMed Health Plan. After AGH was acquired by Shands, Tubb became vice president of public relations for Shands HealthCare.

Katherine died at age 15, and Tubb says it meant a lot to her, to work in the same hospital that cared for her daughter and where they had spent so much time together.

Tubb’s goal is to help make the town in which she grew up a better place to live.

“All of what I have done seems to come together in this particular goal,” Tubb said. “I’m trying to make my hometown better.”

Today Tubb heads a grassroots effort called the “Healthy Community Initiative.” The goal is to improve the quality of life by removing barriers, such as poverty. She defines a healthy community as one with clean air, good streets, good schools, safe neighborhoods, jobs with a future and life with hope.

The Initiative is trying to improve these aspects of life in Gainesville.

“Our goal is to find out how we can change the community so overall health can be better,” Tubb said.

Tubb has recently been a leader of an “art in public places” project.

She has promoted the “Gator Trails,” which involves the creation and decoration of Gators statues and placing them at key places in the community.

The goal is to bring awareness, education and art to the community. The first Gators were unveiled in June. The Gators will eventually be auctioned off and the proceeds will go toward promoting tourism in Alachua County.

After all of Tubb’s community activities, she sees her accomplishments as a mother to be her greatest achievement. She and her husband, George F. Tubb, TEL 1967, an attorney who specializes in real estate, have a second daughter, Tracy.

“I feel best about the job of raising children,” Tubb said. “It’s the hardest and the most satisfying thing you ever do.”