T H E E D G E

The Edge - Northern California Chapter’s Newsletter 3

Remembe!ng Vince

When I interned at the Law Offices of Stephenson, Acquisto & Colman during the summer of 2005, Vince Acquisto took me to my first HFMA of Northern California meeting. Actually, it was more like my dad said to me, “You’re going! End of conversation.” My father was taking me to an informal meeting of his fellow Patient Financial Services (PFS) Committee members who were throwing him a Groom Shower at a Chevys in Fremont. My dad was just weeks from marrying Susan Michelini and his PFS pals were ready to celebrate.

That PFS meeting defined what HFMA of Northern California is really about to its members. It is a non-profit healthcare business organization with an emphasis on the fact that the “F” in HFMA could just as easily stand for “Family” as well as “Financial.” The PFS committee, mostly ladies eager to celebrate my dad’s upcoming nup-tials, was as much about educating its members as it was about socializing with each other.

Upon arriving in California as a full-time resident in 1996, my first business move was to join HFMA. As a Northern California member, I joined the PFS committee and within one year had become chair of the group. I was fortunate to have a wonderful mentor in my father, who was able to lend me his expertise in scheduling and con-ducting meetings.

“Have a speaker at the next meeting and the chapter will get educational hours,” my dad would say to me.

For the next 16 years, we have served as HFMA of Northern California Presidents (a Father-Son first for the chapter and the clos-est thing we had to a monarchy) as well as attended every Spring/Fall Conference, numerous Road Shows and the annual HFMA Region 11 Conference. As if that were not enough, he created the chapter’s annual golf tournament, serving as a one-man committee organizing the initial duffer gatherings at Boundary Oaks and Can-yon Lakes golf courses.

As the years rolled by, we reversed rolls with the son (me) now working hard to keep my dad actively involved with HFMA of Northern California. To be honest, it was not hard. My dad enjoyed socializing and catching up with the HFMA of Northern California friends with whom many he considered to be part of his extended family.

When my dad was first diagnosed with cancer in November of last year, it was hard to fathom. Fact: my father never…I repeat NEVER…missed a single day of work for any illness in 50 years of work. No colds. No flu. No tennis elbow. Suddenly, my father and mentor had to stop working cold turkey. He hated it, detested the fact cancer had robbed him of his passion in life. More than any-thing, he missed being able to speak with all his HFMA friends.

When Vince Acquisto passed away on January 19, it was not a coincidence that Northern California experienced its first real rain in nearly three months. So much sadness that somebody who brought so much joy and friendship to us here on earth, that rain symbolized the grief we here on earth were feeling.

At the Region 11 Symposium a few years ago, former college football coach Lou Holtz read a poem about life being all about “the dash” between our birth year and when we die. My dad lived a re-markable dash.

We, the members of Northern California, are the luckiest chapter in all of HFMA to have had such a great leader, and an even better friend, be there for us for the past three decades. I will miss having my mentor and father every day. Lucky for me, I will be so happily reminded of him every time I participate in HFMA.

A Son’s Poignant Story Ab!t a Beloved Dad and Chapter Pa" President

By Chuck Acquisto, Vince’s Son and Chapter

Past President