UH St. John Honors Volunteers

Volunteers at University Hospitals St. John Medical Center make a difference in the lives of patients, staff and visitors.

Often, it is a volunteer who first greets you, offers directions or assists discharged patients to their rides.

Volunteers are the folks who, many times, set the tone for an entire patient experience.

“People will not remember what you say or what you do. But they will always remember how you made them feel,” said Stephen Evans, MD, President UH St. John Medical Staff at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon held at Avon Oaks Country Club on April 17. “There are not enough words to say ‘Thank You.’”

Volunteers at UH St. John contributed an incredible 48,562 hours of activity to the hospital in 2018!

Some of the numbers accumulated by these volunteers is staggering. Longtime volunteer Anthony Iezzi, PhD, was presented with his 21,000 hour pin! 21,000 hours is the equivalent of more than 10 years of full-time employment! His professional demeanor and pleasant countenance is a source of continuing comfort and compassion to those who visit UH St. John.

Jackie Borzecki was recognized for 12,000 service hours, while Betty Bennett received a pin for an amazing 11,000 hours.

Other notable contributions were recognized by Jack Hall and James Stanton (4,500 hours), Earline Andrey, Caroline Grahovac and Rosemarie Slaght (5,000 hours), Lillian Crimaldi, Gordon Hall, Ann Kullik and Lois Wildauer (6,000 hours) and Dolores Medvec (7,500 hours).

Of special note was the President’s Call to Service Award presented to Alice Coder, Diane Giering and Sigrid Senko for achieving the 4,000 hour benchmark of hours of volunteer service donated in a lifetime.

In memoriam, the families of Norbert ‘Bud’ Klein and Joseph Kearney were recognized and presented with plantings as a tribute to their lives of service.

“UH St. John volunteers make a difference at our medical center serving our patients and staff every day. Our hospital would not be the same without them!” said Penny Evans, Volunteer Manager.

Always Part of the Family…

UH St. John Medical Center retired employees are still a part of the hospital family. “It is apparent that we are happy to be a part of the volunteer team at UH St. John and to continue as part of the hospital family. It is a great facility with many dedicated and caring people!” said Joyce Holod. Here’s a look at the former UH St. John employees that have returned in their retirement years as volunteers.

BARBARA FAZEKAS – Barb worked at SJMC from 1984 to 2013 (29 years) as a Registered Nurse in Cardiopulmonary Rehab. She started volunteering in the Community Outreach Department in 2014.

BARBARA NEALON – Barbara is a Registered Nurse who started working at Bay View Hospital in 1979. She has worked in many departments, and her last position was in Nursing Education. She retired in 2012 with 33 years of service. Barbara is proud that she transferred a patient from Bay View to open the first department at St. John Medical Center. She volunteers at the Outpatient Desk and was recognized for 1,500 volunteer hours.

COLLEEN GROBELNY – Colleen worked at SJMC from 1996 to 2006 in the Financial Department and as a Radiology Scheduler (10 years). She started her volunteer service in 2016 in Transport where her spouse also volunteers. Colleen was recognized for 500 volunteer hours.

CAROL ROSING – Carol is a Registered Nurse who started her employment in 1981 when SJWSH opened. She worked at the hospital for 28 years in Cardiac Pulmonary Rehab and Community Outreach. Carol volunteers in the Community Outreach Department.

MARYELLEN JANKOWSKI – Maryellen worked at Bay View Hospital from 1966-1978. She later worked at SJMC from 1983-2017 as a Certified Cancer Registrar. Maryellen has been volunteering in the Gift Shop since 2017. She was recognized for 200 volunteer hours.

PATRICK CARLIN – Patrick started working at Bay View Hospital in 1967 and transferred to SJWSH when it opened in 1981. Pat retired in 2014 with 46 years of service in the Environmental Services Department. Pat is a volunteer who has been assisting with the hospital mail deliveries for a few years. Pat was recognized for 2,000 volunteer hours.

JOYCE HOLOD – Joyce started working at the hospital in 1984 in the Nutritional Services Department and then transferred to Human Resources as a Secretary/Benefits Specialist. She left SJMC in 2001 and had greatly missed the people there. Joyce started volunteering in 2007, and she offers her time in the Gift Shop, Main Information Desk and the Outpatient Desk. She is currently the President of the hospital Auxiliary. Joyce was recognized for 6.500 volunteer hours.

LOIS GULLING – Lois is a Registered Nurse who started working at Bay View Hospital in 1963. She worked in the Emergency Department until her retirement in 2007 (44 years). Lois become a volunteer in 2009, and she works in the Pharmacy and Main Information Desk.

NANCY SMITH – Worked in the Admitting and Financial Departments and volunteers in Pastoral Care.

ANNE FARRELL – Registered Nurse – Volunteers in Pastoral Care

BILL RUNDLE – Bill worked in the Maintenance Department. He recently started volunteering in the Maintenance Dept.

TIMOTHY TAYLOR, DO – Physician for many years. After his recent retirement, Dr. Taylor started his volunteer service at SJMC in the Transport Department

JUDY WEIRICK, IHM -Sr. Judy served as Vice President of Mission and Ministry.

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