Hillcrest Hospital Honors Its Volunteers

Sue Georges received the Volunteer of the Year award at annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon at .

There were 220 volunteers who were honored, including Robert Cromling, who received an award for 25 years of service.

Speakers included Hillcrest Hospital President Jeffrey Leimgruber, Mayfield Heights Mayor Gregory Costabile, Hillcrest Hospital Auxiliary President Rose Marie Brigneli and Laura Mioranza, director of Patients First.

Entertainment was provided by Ed Leonard, Lake Ridge Academy director of jazz studies, and Lindsey Leonard, a graduate of the Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music.

The Mary Marsiglia Award for Volunteer Excellence was given to Georges, as Volunteer of the Year, for her work with patients.

She was nominated by registered nurse Deborah Webster, who said, "Each Wednesday, as I provide nursing care, I can see her coming down the hall to our unit.  The best dressed person around by far, with a smile that could warm your heart. I am talking about our volunteer named Sue.  For most patients and families, trying to cope with the challenges that arise during a hospital stay can be difficult and stressful. Volunteer Sue helps countless patients and families by attempting to make their experience as comfortable as possible.

"She has a certain way about her, that I am sure is from all of her years of experience as a nurse, that she is able to bring much needed hope and happiness to others. You can find her in the critical care/diagnostic procedure waiting area, greeting visitors, assisting families who have questions and concerns about their loved ones, or just holding a hand and listening.  She always has a warm smile on her face, fresh-cut flowers from home and a candy dish. She has been doing this for so long, that she has quite a following and you will often see physicians and staff stopping by to say hello."

Volunteer recognition awards were presented to:

• 8,000 hours – Dottie Konrad

• 6,000 hours - Elsie Kubiak, Alberta Scharamm

• 2,500 hours – Charles Cordaro, Retha Schabes, Mary Marie Thomas

• 2,000 hours – Rosemary Bares, Elsie Lawrence, Chris Studsgaard

• 1,000 hours – Marilyn Daniels, Juanita Doran, Lillian Lodwick, Dorothy Majoros, Michael Yopko