In Memoriam...

With sadness, we report the deaths of several esteemed members of the BIDMC family:

Frances H. (Harpel) Freedman, who gave many years of loyal service to Beth Israel Hospital and BIDMC as a trustee, overseer, and president of the Women's Auxiliary, died on Tues., Aug. 31. She was 96. A 1929 graduate of Simmons College in Boston, Mrs. Freedman began her long association with the medical center as a social services worker at the former Beth Israel Hospital. She left to marry her beloved husband, Leo Freedman, and raise her children full-time. Mrs. Freedman continued to be affiliated with Beth Israel Hospital in a volunteer capacity, serving as president of the Women's Auxiliary from 1968 to 1970 and becoming a trustee for life in 1972. "Frances was very dedicated and devoted in her efforts to support the medical center," recalls BIDMC archivist Ruth Freiman, who knew Mrs. Freedman for many years during her service to BIDMC. "She especially worked very hard in the Women's Auxiliary to support that organization's programs." Mrs. Freedman was also a member of the BIH Development Committee and a lifetime member of the Friends of Beth Israel Hospital. Following the hospital's merger with New England Deaconess Hospital, she became an overseer for life at BIDMC. In her spare time, she was an avid golfer and sculptor who spent two months each year at the artists' colony, San Miguel de Allende, in Mexico. Predeceased by her husband, Leo, Mrs. Freedman is survived by her children and their spouses, Richard I. & Joan L. Freedman, Laurence A. & Susan L. Freedman, and Joyce F. & Michael E. Liebman. She was also the adored grandmother of Andrew Freedman and Dr. Paula Bellin, Michael and Jennifer Freedman, Nancy and Dr. Rob Reed, Jennifer and Jethta Nguherimo, Elizabeth Freedman, Laura and Dr. Boaz Alperson, and Linda and Glen Weinstein, and was the great-grandmother of ten. She was the dear sister of the late Harry H. and Robert I. Harpel. Services will take place at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton on Thurs, Sept. 2 at 2:30 p.m. Remembrances may be made to The Frances and Leo Freedman Fund at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston 02215.

Richard L. Sternberg, a BIDMC overseer and honorary company leader for the 2004 BIDMC Boston Heart Walk team, died Aug. 6 following a lengthy battle with heart disease. He was 52. Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Sternberg moved to Boston in 1974, shortly after graduating from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. His work in the real estate and development fields included serving as chairman of the board of the Triad Realty Group and SIS Management Group. Mr. Sternberg became an overseer at BIDMC in the1990s, and once chaired the medical center's development committee. Sandra Kurson, chair of BIDMC's board of overseers, recalls, "Rick was wonderfully committed to the medical center, actively working on the board of overseers in many ways to support the hospital. He was a kind and gentle man, and will be missed by all of us." Earlier this year Mr. Sternberg was named BIDMC's honorary company leader for the 2004 Boston Heart Walk, in tribute to the inspirational way he lived and faced his illness, as well as his commitment to raising funds to support the American Heart Association's research and education efforts. On Sept. 18, a BIDMC team will walk in his memory. Mr. Sternberg's wife, Linda, has stepped in to facilitate his AHA fundraising efforts. "I am in awe of Rick," she says. "He chose to see himself as a healthy person with issues - not as a sick person. He traveled, volunteered, and never missed one of our sons' lacrosse games in eight years." Adds Mr. Sternberg's cardiologist of seven years, BIDMC's Joseph Kannam, M.D., "Rick's attitude was a tremendous asset in dealing with his illness. In the 2001 Heart Walk, he raised the most money locally (more than $46,000) and was among the top 10 nationwide - a testament to how he approached challenges." Mr. Sternberg was also named "Man of the Year" by the Greater Boston Jewish Community Center of Newton, where he was a founding member of the health club, and served as commissioner of the Newton Athletic Association Youth Basketball League. He is survived by his wife, Linda (Fialkow); his mother, Eileen, of Philadelphia; two sons, Michael and Matthew, both of Newton; two brothers, Andrew of Boca Raton, Florida, and Scott, of Philadelphia; a sister, Lizanne Reinhart of Philadelphia; and by his father-in law, BIDMC trustee Jay Fialkow, and mother-in-law, Jane. Those who wish to honor Mr. Sternberg by supporting his BIDMC Heart Walk team can visit http:/heartwalk.kintera.org/bostonma (click "Donate to a Walker" and enter "Rick Sternberg" at the prompt).

Dennis Serra, a housekeeper aid in BIDMC's department of lab control for many years, died June 17, five days before his 50th birthday. Born in Readville, Massachusetts, to Frank and Helen A. (Petrillo) Serra, Mr. Serra battled kidney disease and other ailments for most of his life and underwent a kidney transplant and regular dialysis. While his illness limited his activities and he was hospitalized several times each year, he was a hard worker whose smile and outgoing manner made him popular with co-workers and caregivers alike at New England Deaconess Hospital. "He loved working at the Deaconess - especially with the people in the lab," recalls Mr. Serra's sister, Carolyn. "It was like his second home." Mr. Serra's supervisor, former NEDH Pathology Lab Administrator Bill Tobin, stayed in touch with Mr. Serra long after they stopped working together. Tobin says, "He was such a great guy, and a great worker, so friendly to everyone. He always had a smile. Everyone knew and liked Dennis. If you gave him an assignment it was done. Hiring Dennis was a great decision." Mr. Serra's co-worker, former NEDH/BIDMC Pathology Department Driver Joe Sebastian, added, "I looked up to Dennis. He was a very courageous guy...he had dialysis three times a week but still managed to do his job. He just cared for other people, instead of himself...he never complained." Eventually Mr. Serra's health problems forced him to take an extended leave of absence from his work, but he continued to see his co-workers during his frequent visits to NEDH and, later, to BIDMC and Gambro Dialysis. He especially became close with two of his long-time caregivers, BIDMC Transplant Coordinator Louise Riemer, R.N., M.S., A.N.P., and Gambro Social Worker Eliza Vanderstar, L.C.S.W. "I knew Dennis for more than 20 years, both as a patient and, more importantly, as a friend," says Riemer. "He really had two families - his wonderful parents, brothers, sister, in-laws, and nieces and nephews, and all of us here at BIDMC who were very fond of him. He will be missed." Outside of work, Mr. Serra was an avid Bruins fan who enjoyed attending extended family reunions and listening to Eddie Arnold music. His love for travel took him to such diverse destinations as Hawaii, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, the Grand Ole Opry in Tennessee, and a cruise aboard the QE II - all of which he enjoyed, despite having to arrange for dialysis at each location. He was also a very spiritual person who took great pride in being an usher at his church, and continued to watch the Mass on television every morning when he could no longer attend services in person due to his declining health. Mr. Serra is survived by his mother, Helen; his sister, Carolyn; and his brothers, Frank, Peter, Joey and Richie, along with many nieces and nephews.

Bruce Joseph Romano, an electrician at BIDMC for 14 years, died June 21 of a brain aneurysm. He was 57. Born in Dedham, Massachusetts, Mr. Romano graduated from the Boston Trade High School in 1965, where he studied to be an electrician. He then began an apprenticeship at Wood Electric in Norwood before enlisting in the Navy Seabees in 1966. He served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War in Da Nang and Phu Bai between 1966 and 1968, returning home to finish his apprenticeship. Mr. Romano worked as an electrician for 19 years at the Sturtevant Division of Westinghouse Electric Co. in Readville and was employed for several years at the University of Massachusetts at Boston before coming to BIDMC. His co-workers in the electrical section of BIDMC's maintenance operations department recall that "Bruce was always calm, quiet and always had a smile. Once you talked to Bruce for five minutes, you felt like you knew him a lifetime. He would always remember your name." Another BIDMC co-worker, Maintenance Mechanic Dick Cronin, says, "We became good friends. If I needed something he was always there for me. If he needed something I was there for him. I'll miss him. He was a great guy." Though he was a quiet man at home, Mr. Romano made sure to say hello to everyone he passed on the street. "He made everyone feel just as important as the next person to him," says his wife, Dorothy, of West Roxbury. "He was just an amazing man." His wife recalls that he always managed to be home early so he could spend time with his four children. "Another man would have come home and have a beer, read the newspaper," she says. "His relaxation was enjoying his children." She adds that when the family would vacation on Cape Cod, her husband was like a "pied piper." Instead of sitting on the beach with the adults, he would always be in the water, playing with the youngsters. Mr. Romano served as a Catholic Youth Organization adult adviser for St. Theresa of Avila parish in West Roxbury for 12 years. He also co-founded the Parkway Youth Soccer League and was its co-president for 14 years. He was honored with the West Roxbury Businessman's Association Man of the Year Award in 1986. In addition to his wife Dorothy, he leaves his children, Brian and his wife LoriAnn of Canton; Kevin and his wife Denise of Hyde Park; Kerry Garrigan and her husband Gus of Norwood; and Caitlin of West Roxbury. He also leaves two grandchildren, Amanda and Luke; his stepmother, Lorraine, of Venice, Florida; two sisters, Arlene Pucillo and Joyce, both of Millis; and a brother, Mark, of Centerville.

Vaia Georgianna Nutter, a cardiac ultrasonographer in BIDMC's non-invasive cardiology unit, died June 25. She was 46. Ms. Nutter was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Frances Nutter and the late Allen Nutter, Sr. She was raised in Jesterville, a small town on the eastern shore of Maryland, and attended schools in Wicomico County and, later, Salisbury State College, before moving to Boston. Prior to her work in BIDMC's echocardiography lab, she also worked in echocardiography - a career she loved - at the New England Baptist, Lemuel Shattuck and South Shore hospitals. Ms. Nutter was known for her quick wit and infectious laugh, which captured the hearts of many. Her family, friends and co-workers all agree that "To know Vaia, was to love her." Ms. Nutter's supervisor, Marilyn Riley, clinical manager in the BIDMC echocardiography lab, noted that "Vaia was part of our echo family here at the BIDMC for seven years as one of our senior cardiac ultrasonographers. She could take the most frightened, critically ill or cantankerous patient in for a scan, and soon you'd hear peals of laughter coming from the room - she put all her patients in a great mood and made them actually glad to have come to the lab for a test. She truly had an infectious, memorable and totally unique, recognizable laugh, and she combined that with compassion and technical excellence to give every patient the best exam possible. Vaia was always generous and helpful to her co-workers, and respected and loved by all that worked with her." Ms. Nutter was known as a consummate comedienne when socializing with those she loved, and her aspiration was to become a stand-up comedienne or to perform in theater, which she dabbled in from time to time. She loved life, her family and friends, and had the ability to make those around her feel as if they were the most special person in the world. She especially loved children and doted on her nieces, nephews and godchildren. Ms. Nutter is survived by her mother; seven sisters, Gene Roberts; Marcia Speller; Iona Townsend; Theodoshia Roberts; Janet Turner; Rebecca Brickous; and Vesheara Nutter-Metts, all of Maryland; two brothers, Phillip Roberts and Allen Jr.; and several nieces, nephews, godchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of wonderful friends.. She was predeceased by her brother, Vurnun Nutter.

We send out monthly e-mails to inform BIDMC staff about members of our community who have recently passed away. To report the death of a current or former BIDMC community member, please contact Susan Lubars in the Office of the President at (66)7-9478, Rabbi Terry Bard at (66)7-3030 or Valerie Hope Goldstein, Communications, at (66)7-7307.