Meet Our Donors
We thank all our planned-gift donors for their generous support. Here are some of their stories.
Norman & Frances Kerr
A Gift to Help People Forever
Norman and Frances Kerr can happily recount their family ties to Geisinger, dating back to its founding in 1915. “My parents got their medical care at Geisinger, and their parents before them,” Frances says.
Together, their ties to Geisinger span six generations, down to their great-grandchildren today. “Geisinger is just a great hospital for people of all ages,” Norman says.
Frances’ mother worked as a nurse at Geisinger after graduating from its nursing school in 1926. Frances was born at Geisinger. A generation later, she worked at a Geisinger office for seven years.
Now retired in Riverside, the Kerrs have established a charitable remainder unitrust that will benefit other Geisinger patients forever. The unitrust will provide income to the Kerrs for the rest of their lives as well as a tax benefit.
Eventually, the principle will be transferred to Geisinger’s endowment to help fund several medical specialties. “We wanted to support all the departments that have treated us and our friends over the years,” Norman says.
The Kerrs have been longtime supporters of Geisinger, making gifts to the Children’s Miracle Network and “any special need,” Norman says.
His former employer, Merck Pharmaceuticals, has matched their cash gifts. “The people of this region are very fortunate,” Norman says. “It is very unusual to have a great medical center in a rural area. We have the quality of medical care most people can only get in big cities, but we can still enjoy the quiet life. The doctors and nurses at Geisinger are part of our community – we see them in church and socially.”
The Kerrs enjoy gardening and attending theatrical productions. They travel each summer to theater festivals in Canada. Norman still goes hunting, although his “good friend” Taja, a chocolate Labrador Retriever, has grown too old to chase birds. They also adopted Maggie, a Husky-Beagle mix (“Too heavy to be a lap dog,” Frances says) and Tika, a Chihuahua (“Eight pounds – just right.”).
The Kerrs give back generously to their community and several healthcare charities. But they want to leave a legacy through Geisinger.
“There are so many worthy causes,” Norman says. “We wanted to do something that would help the most people far into the future. Geisinger helps a broad range of people in our region, including the needy. Our unitrust will help people as Geisinger has helped us.”
Thomas Roush
Enjoying his good life every day
Retired letter carrier Thomas Roush of State College describes himself as being very fortunate. He survived a sniper attack in World War II as a 19-year old member of the Army’s 337th Infantry Regiment.
He spent 11 months and three weeks in the hospital recovering from his wounds. He first saw combat action near Anzio in Italy. Prior to his tour of duty in Italy, he served in Morocco and Algeria and in addition to receiving the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the World War II Victory medals as a member of the 337th Infantry, 85th Division, he also received a Presidential Unit citation for his military service. “I survived and now 64 years later I can say I’ve had a good life,” he says.
Part of that good life was Anna, his wife of 54 years. “We had a wonderful life together and have two children, both Penn State graduates, that we’re extremely proud of,” he says fondly. His daughter Ruth Ann is retired from the State Department and son Fred is a police officer in Maryland. “When my wife passed away in 2003, I was devastated,” he remembers. “I miss her everyday, but I’m so thankful for all the years we had together and for our children.”
“My wife had wonderful care at Geisinger and the House of Care, located on the Danville campus, is a special place,” says Thomas.
“My wife used the House of Care and I feel strongly about making an annual gift to support it. My family and I were treated with respect at Geisinger and that is why Geisinger is also part of my estate plans,” he adds.
“Geisinger is exceptional,” says Thomas. “The physician thought enough of us to call my daughter in Vienna, Austria, where she was working so she had enough time to get home before her mother passed. There is a great relationship between the Roush family and the Geisinger family,” says Thomas with a smile. “I have strong feelings for Geisinger and I feel good about being able to make gifts to Geisinger.”
Thomas describes his wife as an extra special, one-of-a kind lady. “After she died, I was a bit lost, but my daughter taught me how to cook, bake and do my own cleaning,” he says. “Now I take care of the entire house myself,” he says proudly. He points to the Baldwin apple tree in his back yard that he and his wife planted 45 years ago and to the baskets of freshly picked apples on his porch as examples of his baking skills. “Those will be pies and dumplings,” he says with a laugh.
An avid pinochle player, Thomas, his widowed sister and other friends and family, play cards on a regular schedule. “We all care for each other and we have a lot of fun,” he says. “I keep busy with that and I have coffee each morning with another group of good friends. My family has also been lifelong members of Saint Peters United Church of Christ in State College where I also have many dear friends. I’m thankful each day for all the good that is part of my life.”
Fred & Mary Jones
Dr. and Mrs. Jones describe themselves as a couple that “like to give,” but give quietly. “Discussing our giving is a departure for us,” Dr. Jones says, “but Mary Jo and I believe that it is important to let others know why we donate to Geisinger.”
Their dedication to Geisinger began in 1965, when, after a nine-year stint in the Air Force Medical Corps, Dr. Jones and his family moved to a farm outside of Danville. As a physician, he appreciated the commitment to delivering care without turning anyone away, and to the “institutional pride that carries through to all levels of the organization. “At Geisinger, I was able to advance my department,” reflects Dr. Jones. “I like Geisinger’s determination to stay at the forefront of the medical profession.”
After raising five children, three of whom are also in the medical field, Dr. and Mrs. Jones say they feel proud to be a part of Geisinger and are glad that it has played a huge part in their lives. “Our family received all our medical care at Geisinger, and we wouldn’t think of going anywhere else,” Mrs. Jones says.
Dr. and Mrs. Jones have funded a charitable gift annuity in support of the Chairman of Medicine Fund. The annuity provides them with income and tax advantages while helping to support the health system. “We’re pleased to be able to provide something in return for Geisinger’s influence on our lives,” Dr. Jones says.
Fitz & Mary Jane Walling
Mr. and Mrs. Walling are community leaders by any definition. The Lewisburg residents have a long and valued history with Geisinger. What began as a modest response to an annual appeal in 1981 has grown into an increasing level of commitment and support through Geisinger’s Annual Fund.
“We give in order to say thank you,” Mr. Walling says. “We love this community and believe Geisinger is part of what makes this area such a wonderful place to call home. Geisinger has been our healthcare provider for more than 50 years. Both our children were born at Geisinger Medical Center, and we have always been grateful for the excellent care we have received.”
The Wallings have demonstrated their appreciation for Geisinger by directing gifts each year, for 25 years, to support a variety of programs and services. Their philanthropy has supported Life Flight®, women’s health, dermatology, cardiology, House of Care, and pediatric services.
In addition to these annual gifts, the Wallings have also established a gift annuity to support the renovation of the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.
Bud and Dorothy Beecham
Bud and Dorothy Beecham have been committed to Geisinger Health System ever since Dorothy’ life was saved because of the expert care she received there. The Beechams give annually to Geisinger as they can, and they have left money in their will. They stress that they’re not millionaires, but including a bequest to Geisinger is as important to them as making gifts to their nieces and nephews.
“We decided that we’d like to do something to give back,” Bud says. “They saved her life, and they were good to us all the way around.”
The Beechams who live in South Abington, Pa., have been married for over 50 years, nearly 40 of which have been since a tumor was discovered in Dorothy’s brain.
Dorothy was working at a gum factory then. She would become unconscious at work, so Bud would drive her home.
A family doctor rejected the idea of a tumor for a few months, but eventually sent the Beechams to another doctor who immediately connected them with Geisinger. They went to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville that evening, and Dorothy had surgery the next morning. “They were so good to us right in the beginning that we stuck with them,” Bud says.
Dorothy, who is now 78, says she has always considered Dr. Hood, the doctor who performed her surgery, to be her angel.
Bud says Dorothy’s operation lasted for seven or eight hours. The tumor was wrapped around veins and was extremely difficult to remove. The surgery was so difficult that it had to be stopped before a small part of the tumor was removed because Dorothy had been under anesthesia for too long. “The doctor said he thought it would never give her any problems again,’ Bud says. “That was in 1968, so he must have been right.”
Bud, now 82, retired in1990 from a shop that made paper mill machinery. In addition to their generosity to Geisinger, after retiring Bud and Dorothy spent almost 15 years serving as Red Cross volunteers. “We like helping people,” Bud says.
Geisinger Health System relies on generous friends like the Beechams to help provide excellent health care into the future.