GBMC Recognizes Most Faithful Supporters

Being a small, independent, community healthcare system, GBMC is proud to have many faithful supporters that give back to ensure every patient receives the best care possible. More so than others of our size, GBMC is fortunate a select group of dedicated individuals pledge significant investments to advance GBMC's vision. Every other year we honor them at our Joseph S. Keelty Society Dinner.

This year's inductees feature more physicians than ever before, two former school teachers and a dedicated supporter of our NICU inducted the year we celebrate 30 years of running the Father's Day 5K. These 12 individuals and foundations join 67 existing members who have made a mark on GBMC HealthCare in multiple ways that have impacted them the most.

Dr. and Mrs. Albert Blumberg made a generous gift to establish the Beth and Albert Blumberg Radiation Oncology Staff Development Fund to benefit Radiation Oncology staff in continuing education. Dr. Blumberg's gratitude for his staff during his 30-plus year tenure at GBMC made this gift particularly meaningful and touching to his staff.

Elizabeth M. Christhilf was a dedicated volunteer in GBMC's Gift Shop. She was a generous donor to Gilchrist as well as GBMC HealthCare. Upon her death in 2016, she left a bequest to Gilchrist and GBMC to continue a legacy of great care in the town where her family owned their construction company.

Before his passing in 2016, Phillip T. Dunk Jr. was a grateful patient of Dr. Neal Friedlander's. A former treasurer at First National Bank, Phillip left GBMC a significant bequest to support patient care and top priorities within the healthcare system.

Louis and Phyllis Friedman gifted through their Foundation to support newly-diagnosed cancer patients as they begin their cancer journey and are learning about their treatments and services available to help them moving forward. Read more about the Friedmans on page 2.

Mr. Lowell Glazer and his late wife, Harriet, created the Marci Glazer Crosby Memorial Fund as a way to honor their daughter who passed away at a young age from cancer. The daughter she left behind had been in the NICU, which sparked Lowell and Harriet's desire to support GBMC's annual fundraising event: the Father's Day 5K. It is fitting this loyal supporter of ours would be inducted for his commitment to the NICU during the 30th anniversary of this 5K event.

Mr. H. Hudson Myers passed away earlier this year, and his wife, Roberta, has continued their legacy of gifting since his passing. Hudson was a grateful patient of GBMC and the couple always donated to GBMC's greatest area of need. A civil engineer and avid gardener, Hudson wanted to help the community with his philanthropy.

Tom and Lynne O’Donnell have a long-standing relationship with GBMC, which begins with the fact that GBMC has been their neighbor for 30 years. All five of their children and seven of their nine grandchildren were born at GBMC, and Lynne was even a candy striper as a community service project in high school. We have been lucky to have Tom and Lynne as leaders on various committees.

Known as "the baby hospital" for many years, GBMC has a long history of maternal care. The five physicians who lead Perinatal Associates have continued that great legacy, not only in their exceptional patient care, but also in their joint commitment to giving back to those they serve. Two Perinatal Associates physicians have been recognized as GBMC Titans of Care for their dedication to patients and acceleration of GBMC's services.

Nancy E. Smith and Emmy Lee Steigelman are both former educators who gave back to GBMC in gratitude for exceptional care given to those closest to them. Nancy taught middle school for a short while before stopping to care for her parents and aunt while Emmy Lee was a special educator for 30 years along her husband, a math teacher. Emmy Lee credits Dr. John Saunders and the Milton J. Dance Center with saving her husband's life in the late 90s.

Andrew Trost was a longtime Lockheed Martin employee until his passing in 2000. Upon his second wife's death in 2016, GBMC realized a $250,000 bequest that bookended a lifetime of gifting to GBMC for grateful patient care that began with Andy's first wife. In 1992, the couple thought so much of GBMC, they named the GBMC Coronary Intermediate Care Unit: The Andrew and Lillian Trost CCU.

As a leading expert in retinal treatment and research, Dr. Robert Welch served as the Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at GBMC from 1985 to 1991. The Wilkinson, Welch, Hoover Chair in Ophthalmology is named after Dr. Welch and two other storied chairs who served immediately before and after his tenure. Dr. Welch and his beloved wife, Betty, who passed away in 2016 gifted generously to GBMC's ophthalmology department to continue to advance the work started by Dr. Welch many years ago when GBMC began.

These standout community leaders in philanthropy will be honored at a ceremony at Hayfield's Country Club on April 24. If you would like to become a member of the Joseph S. Keelty Society, please contact Rachel Ladenson at 443-849-3765 or rladenson@gbmc.org.