Charley with customized sneakers, Charley ringing the bell at Nationwide Children’s Hospital to celebrate being cancer-free. Charley customizing sneakers for Coaches vs. Cancer week in her hospital room at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

In Memoriam

Pictured above: Charley customized sneakers for Coaches vs. Cancer. Her presence was felt when Ohio State’s basketball team beat Iowa in February. Charley ringing the bell at Nationwide Children’s Hospital to celebrate being cancer-free.

Charley Bauer wearing her red scrubs in front of Jane E. Heminger Hall.

Charlotte Isabel “Charley” Bauer
2003 – 2025

The last words her family heard her say were, “It will be okay” and “I can do hard things.”

Charley Bauer, a third-year BSN student, did very hard things in her fight against acute myeloid leukemia. In fact, she was declared cancer-free and rang the bell at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in December. She fought the disease courageously and publicly, inspiring countless friends, classmates and her home community in the Toledo area.

Charley was the epitome of bravery, tenacity, grace and joy. She was making plans to return to the College of Nursing for classes in the fall and counted her gold medal from the FLO Race event as one of her prized possessions.

Sadly, Charley passed away on February 16 from complications related to her bone marrow transplant. She was 21 years old.

You can read the heartfelt obituary crafted by her family at go.osu.edu/charleybauerobit. Our College of Nursing holds up Charley, her family, her friends and all of those she inspired during her journey.