Hero Story

Linda spent 40 + years as a reading and English teacher in Dansville Schools. She also supported education beyond retirement serving in roles supporting educators. Dr. Stephen Guretin, a Sparrow Pediatrician, asked Linda to become a volunteer to tutor patients in the hospital. There was another path for Linda, however, when we realized she needed an immunization she wasn't prepared to get. She joined the surgical lounge and quickly stepped into a role where she mentored new volunteers and helped them cope with the stresses and processes of supporting 100 + family members a day in the lounge. She also offered to develop a newsletter for the surgical lounge that recognized birthdays, new volunteers and conveyed all the important changes that came about in the lounge. Because of Linda's efforts, she helped improve volunteer retention and satisfaction with the most challenging volunteer role at Sparrow.

She joined the Women's Board of Managers and, like the surgical lounge, she quickly stepped into roles to organize and communicate to help others along. She became the chair of the Archives Committee and even among the challenges of the pandemic, she brought members of the committee together. She gave them a path forward in a confusing time when challenges were even greater as meetings were virtual. She did this until she shared that she was ill. Linda was a weekly (at least) volunteer for the surgical lounge until COVID-19 hit and still kept going as a Women's Board of Managers Member and an Archives Chairperson.

This past month, I learned she had terminal cancer and before I could even send her a note, she had passed. She had a beautiful light and joy about her, and she gave of herself and her gifts so freely that it was easy to like her and a pleasure to work alongside her.