Meet Our Legacy Circle Friends | The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital

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.

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.

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.

Jean Jolley von Hoffman

The Joy of Helping Nursing Students Reach Their Dreams

Jean Jolley von Hoffman’s love for nursing began as a young girl growing up on a farm in Tuscola, Illinois. She had an early passion for nurturing animals that evolved into a lifetime of caring for people in her community and far beyond.

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."

Legacy Gifts Build on a Project of Love

Darlene Roland has a deep, long-term connection to Barnes-Jewish Hospital. It began when she was a patient at the hospital at age 19.

Giving to Find a Cure for Cancer

Inspired by her parents’ generosity, Shirley Heiman helps fund research for a cancer cure through a gift from her retirement account.

Jim and Martha Dow

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.

Cristine Fischer

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.

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.

A Nursing Pioneer Builds the Future of Medicine

Mary Masters has been a fighter from the time she was a young girl. In fact, she says she was so "ornery" in elementary school that a teacher told Mary's parents that their little daughter was too tough on the boys.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Love of Clydesdales Led One Woman to Lifesaving Diagnosis and Legacy Gift

When Cari Goss was a little girl, she loved the Anheuser- Busch Clydesdales, and when she reached adulthood she was delighted to realize she could actually own Clydesdales herself.

Lifelong Nurse Honors Field With Her Gift

Penny Bari, Barnes Hospital School of Nursing Class of '61, is not exaggerating when she says that nursing school was her entire world when she was a student.

Carolyn and Chuck Furfine

Giving Back to Excellent Medical Care

Carolyn and Chuck Furfine, PhD, wanted to give back to the organizations that are important to them. Using their living trust, they are making a lasting impact at the Foundation.

Pat and Bob Eckart

Excellent Nursing Education Inspires Couple to Give Back

Pat Eckart had a challenging but rewarding education as part of Barnes Hospital School of Nursing's first graduating class in 1958, a legacy school of Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College.

Charlene and Dale Werling

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.

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.