We are grateful to those who have made a commitment through an estate gift, life-income arrangement, or endowed fund with The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Here are their stories.
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A Lifetime Listener and Generous Giver
Rabbi Jay Goldburg, a retired Marine, has spent his life giving to others. As a spiritual care rabbi at Barnes-Jewish Hospital (and the former Jewish Hospital of St. Louis), he spent nearly 30 years at patient bedsides, bringing his warm, calming presence to every patient and family in need.
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A Legacy Gift that Gives Hope
Anne Hartupee and her late husband, John, were living in Pacific, Missouri, in 2013 when he was diagnosed with cancer at an area hospital. However, they thought it best to get a second opinion from The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center and decided to continue treatment there.
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Scientist Knows the Value of a Gift
Lisa Westfield credits family with her love of science. When cancer took her uncle, Lisa and her mother decided to honor him with an estate gift to further research. "These funds are critical for new advancements," says Lisa, who has spent her career in research. "I've been able to see it."
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Giving Out of Love for Humanity
Jim Dow, who has always been physically active, developed a serious type of heart disease in 2007, and by 2009 his doctors in Virginia thought he needed a heart transplant to survive.
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A Gift From the Heart
When Cristine Fischer was diagnosed with heart disease, she entrusted the cardiac teams at Barnes-Jewish Hospital with her lifesaving care. Now, grateful to be back to her active lifestyle, she's giving back through her estate plan.
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Inspired by Donors, a Foundation Employee Gives Back
As senior writer at The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Gail Appleson gets to share the unforgettable stories of grateful patients and their families who are inspired to give back. Recently, one of those stories motivated Gail to make a gift of her own.
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A More Hopeful Future Through Giving
After receiving a brochure several years ago from The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital outlining the impact of charitable giving on heart and vascular research, Jo Oertli began to fully realize the importance of financially supporting Barnes-Jewish Hospital and its affiliates.
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Roans Establish Gift Annuity to Support Diabetes Research
Connie and Jim Roan are living in their 21st house together since marrying in 1962. Jim's career as an Air Force judge advocate took them to Oklahoma, Alabama, Germany, England, California, Ohio, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and, finally, Missouri.
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Her Second Act
Mary Strauss is a St. Louis philanthropist best known for saving the historic St. Louis Fox Theater. In the 1980s, she helped return the 4,500-seat “movie palace” to its original 1929 glamour, and today the theater hosts the biggest names in live entertainment and Broadway plays.
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Building a Beautiful Legacy Through Giving
John Gerdes met his late wife, Jerrie, at a college mixer in the late 1950s when they were just 18 years old. The jukebox was playing the latest hits, and John was excited to meet new friends—and potential dates—as a college freshman.
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Fighting for a Cure for MS
At times, it was like my body was on fire," Cindy Galati says. The odd health symptoms-numbness, tingling and burning sensations in several parts of her body began not long after Cindy graduated from college in 1979.
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Solid Foundation Inspires Investment
It all started in the summer of 1947. That's when Helen Wells, RN, MNA, graduated with a BSN from the Washington University School of Nursing and finished her clinical hours at Barnes Hospital. It's been a globespanning adventure ever since.
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Keeping a Friend's Legacy Alive
Though Charlene Werling retired from nursing several years ago, she still misses the community she formed from her days at Jewish Hospital School of Nursing where she made lifelong friends as she studied the art and science of compassionate nursing.
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Specialized Care Makes a Difference
When the Springfield, Illinois doctors treating Sherri Schnetz for heart failure realized she needed a level of expertise they could not provide, they suggested Sherri and her husband, Marc, seek help from the Washington University cardiovascular team at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
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