Before she was the beloved Major “Hot Lips” Houlihan, she was Loretta Jane Szwed — a girl from Passaic, New Jersey, with dreams bigger than her small-town sky. She rose from humble beginnings to become one of television’s brightest stars, forever changing how the world saw women in uniform. As part of the cultural phenomenon MASH*, Loretta Swit didn’t just play a nurse — she gave life to a character who was fierce, funny, flawed, and profoundly human.

 For eleven seasons, across 256 episodes and two Emmy wins, she stood shoulder to shoulder with legends like Alan Alda, transforming a wartime satire into something timeless — a meditation on courage, compassion, and the cost of care. With every sharp word and every quiet tear, she reminded us that strength and sensitivity could coexist — that dignity could thrive even in chaos.

 When the curtain fell on MASH*, Swit’s artistry never faded. She brought her presence to Broadway, television, and the world stage — but her greatest role came beyond the spotlight. A devoted animal advocate, she turned her fame into a force for good. Through her SwitHeart Animal Alliance, she became a voice for the voiceless, rescuing, healing, and loving creatures great and small. Her devotion to compassion wasn’t performance — it was her truth.

Loretta Swit passed away at 87, but her spirit lingers in every act of kindness and every rerun that still brings comfort to millions. She leaves behind a legacy that transcends screens — one built on empathy, humor, and heart.

The world salutes Major Houlihan one last time. Not just as a symbol of television’s golden age, but as a woman who showed us that true courage isn’t found in battlefields or scripts — it’s found in compassion that endures.