E-4 dedicated to major donors
From left, Charles Pearson; Elizabeth (Zuerner) Pearson; Joan Zuerner and Richard Zuerner, MD, standing in front of the new plaque on E-4 in memory of Hartwell and Lois (Flynn) Zuerner. |
Whether it was the little hospital on the hill decades ago or the sprawling, modern facility it has become today, Backus Hospital has always been there for the Zuerner family.
That long-term relationship culminated March 20 with the dedication of the new E-4 telemetry unit, named after Hartwell and Lois (Flynn) Zuerner, longtime Norwich residents whose $250,000 bequest was directed by their family in support of the $5-million BackusCare campaign.
"It's a very impressive unit," said Richard Zuerner, MD, Hartwell's son. "I know they would be very happy with it. The hospital has always been here for us. I think it is quite fitting that the unit is being named after them."
Dr. Zuerner said he has fond memories of growing up in Norwich - he recalled Backus as a pillar of the community, from a gathering place where kids played baseball and went sledding, to a safe haven for his parents as they grew older.
Thomas P. Pipicelli, the hospital's President and Chief Executive Officer, thanked the Zuerners for their generosity, and explained how the E-4 telemetry unit — with the latest cardiac monitoring technology and its spacious, private rooms — will serve the needs of the community for years to come.
"Today we celebrate a great and generous local family who always found ways to give back to their community," Mr. Pipicelli said.
Hartwell, the son of German immigrants, grew up in Taftville and enjoyed a long career at Dime Savings Bank and the former Norwich Savings Society, where he retired after 47 years as senior vice president and treasurer. He also served as City Council President, was named the Norwich Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year and was a member of the Backus Board of Trustees and other local boards. He died in March 2001 at the age of 90.
Lois died in June 2004. Mrs. Zuerner taught in the Norwich school system for 12 years, as well as in Newington and abroad. She also graduated from the Red Cross Nurse's Aide Program and worked as a volunteer at Backus Hospital, where her mother, Marjorie Flynn, graduated from the nursing school.
Peter Disch, a Backus Board member, co-chair of the BackusCare capital campaign and chairman of the Board's Development Committee, said philanthropy is becoming increasingly important to hospitals that are trying to keep up with the latest technology at a time when reimbursements for patient care are declining.
"Gifts like these have a positive, meaningful impact on the future of this hospital," Mr. Disch said.
More than $4.5 million has been raised in the capital campaign to support the ongoing $50-million expansion at Backus, said Genevieve Schies, Director of Planned Giving at the Backus Foundation. The project also includes doubling the size of the Emergency Department, enhancing surgical services, adding the latest cancer treatment technology and more.
"We are very grateful to the Zuerners for their generosity," Ms. Schies said. "It is gifts like these that make major projects at community hospitals like ours possible."