Spring 2011

Anyone who knows Stephen Baker wouldn’t be surprised to hear that, upon learning Brattleboro Memorial Hospital wanted to honor him and his wife, Jane, at the February 12 “Giving from the Heart” Gala, his first reaction was to keep it low-key. “But Jane and our son, Jim, pointed out that the family has been very much involved with the hospital,” he says. And indeed, when Stephen recounts his relationship with BMH over the years, he is more comfortable doing so in the context of the Baker family than his own personal involvement.

Of course, the story of the Baker family runs a corresponding line with the story of Brattleboro. Stephen can actually trace his ancestry back to the town’s founding, and both his parents were born and raised here. After deciding college life was not to his taste, Stephen’s father, James, borrowed money from his own father, to start a newspaper, magazine and stationery store on Flat Street in 1925. Two years later, Baker’s moved to the Main Street location it occupies today.

Stephen remembers his father joining BMH’s board of directors when he was 13, and his mother was so passionate about her role in the BMH auxiliary that she wanted to be buried in her pink smock. “I certainly grew up with them being involved with the community,” says Stephen, who has been a hospital corporator and has served on a number of committees, as well being a fundraiser for the addition of the Richards Building for outpatient services. “Also, part of my education at Choate and Middlebury impressed upon me that you can’t always take from a community, you have to give back.”

Jane Baker has also been an auxiliary member for over 50 years, following the example of her mother while growing up in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. But her indelible contribution to the hospital is the founding of the breast cancer support group, which she co-founded with BMH staff Dion Eleftherakis and community members Carol Westing and Jane Sbardella in 1993. This support group, which started as a result of Jane’s diagnosis of breast cancer, operated on its own with BMH’s blessing, meeting twice a month. After a short period of time the coordination was handed over to BMH with some

financial support provided by a grant that Jane wrote to the Thompson Trust. Shortly after the forming of this group her daughter in-law was lost to the disease.

“When I first got breast cancer nobody talked about it. So this was a place where women could go and share their information. We had some tears but we also had a lot of laughter,” Jane says.

Given the Baker’s family history with breast cancer -- in addition to Jane and her daughter in-law, one of Stephen’s sister’s in-law also recently passed away after being 25-year survivor -- it is fitting that Stephen and Jane are being honored during a year when the Gala proceeds are directed towards BMH oncology services. Jane can not say enough about the wonderful care she has received from BMH and the oncology staff. From Dr. Joe Rosen and Dr. Greg Gadowski to Kelly McCue, Breast Care Navigator to Agnes Mikijaniec, Oncology Nurse Manager and Oncology Physician Dr. Letha Mills the care, support and guidance has been has been invaluable. “There are too many to mention, and there is always the fear of omitting someone, but no matter the person the care at BMH has been incredible.”

“I think that health care is really essential, and having local health care makes a big difference in the community,” Stephen says. “I remember pitching a development idea once, and told them that the quality of the hospital was one of the reasons Brattleboro is so vibrant. It’s one of the town’s largest employers and the area’s high quality-of-life attracts top-notch medical staff. It’s a great community asset.”

Stephen and Jane Baker

Jane and Stephen Baker

www.bmhvt.org/givingPage 2

A Life Saving and Life Changing Gift…

Recently, the Development Office of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital was surprised with a generous bequest from someone who lived in the greater Brattleboro community. This gift was a total surprise. We neither knew that the hospital was included in their estate plan, nor was there a strong history of charitable support. Yet, like so many other community members who write BMH into their wills, this individual decided to make a lasting gift—a gift to save lives and change lives.

Year after year, your friends and neighbors designate gifts to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, working to ensure that our community hospital remains a community hospital; one that maintains strong community relationships as it provides services to all in need. Whether it is an annual fund gift, sponsorship support, attendance at an event or an estate gift, these dollars work to save lives and change lives.

If you are updating your estate plans or just starting to think about what you would like your legacy to be, please keep Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in mind. By designating a portion of your estate to BMH you can continue your years of annual support. Please give the Development Office a call at (802) 257-8314 to talk about how you can have a lasting legacy, a life saving legacy.

Estate Planning with Charitable Intent

Presented by Joe Cook,

Esq. of Corum Mabie Cook Prodan Angell & Secrest and

Chris Chapman, Vice President & Principal, Trust Company of Vermont

Monday, April 25, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.Tyler Conference Room, BMH

Seating Limited. Please RSVP to development@bmhvt.org

or (802) 257-8314.

a Star is Born!New parents,

grandparents, aunts and uncles now have a new and lasting way to celebrate the latest addition to their lives. Introducing a Brattleboro Memorial Hospital recognition opportunity called, a Star is Born! With a commemorative gift of $50 to BMH, an engraved star will be hung just outside of the Birthing Center with the child’s name and birth date. All proceeds to a Star is Born! will be designated for the benefit of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, helping with our commitment to “provide the best patient experience, every patient, every time”. For more information contact the Development Office at 802-257-8314 or email development@bmhvt.org.

National Doctors’ Day is coming up on Wednesday, March 30

You may recall that last year, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital held a reception for our doctors in celebration of National Doctors’ Day and the wonderful work they do in and for our community. As the focal point of the celebration, the hospital sent a request out to the community seeking tributes honoring your doctors. In all, we received over 120 tributes for 56 of our physicians. One community member wrote, “Thank you for the endless ways in which you have helped our family thrive. You exemplify that extent to which medicine is part science, part art, part common sense and part compassion.”

Hanging on the walls of Tyler Conference Room, the tributes testified to the great skill, dedication and compassion of our physicians. Many of our doctors commented on how warm and thoughtful the tributes were and that the celebration made them feel appreciated and special.

This year, we will celebrate National Doctors’ Day again, providing a venue for the community to once again pay tribute to your special doctor. Please think about what you might want to share and who you want to thank. We look forward to showering our docs with your well wishes and warm regards again this Spring.

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A Memorable Evening at Giving From The Heart Gala

On Saturday, February 12th more than 200 gathered at the All Souls UU Church to raise support for the oncology services at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, celebrate Valentine’s Day and recognize Stephen and Jane Baker. A moving video tribute was shown thanking this local couple for all they have done for the hospital and the greater Brattleboro community.

Jane’s contribution in helping start the breast cancer support group in the early 1990’s and Steve’s many years of supporting BMH as a corporator and an active annual fund solicitor made them an ideal couple to recognize at this year’s gala. Many were the adjectives used to describe Jane: “Loving and generous, as close to an angel as you can get and a bull dog, probably the most elegant bulldog ever. And given something that needed to be done, she’d do it.”

And when talking about Steve: “He knows more about Brattleboro and Brattleboro Memorial Hospital than probably anyone else in town…his father taught him a lot about how to raise big money for big causes”.

These were just a few of the grateful expressions of appreciation that were shared in the video tribute, in the commemorative scrapbook and in the public remarks made by President & CEO, Barry Beeman.

Later in the evening after delectable bites by North End Butchers, drinks served up by The Putney Inn and dancing to Johnny & The Triumphs, the mood was lightened by the first ever Cinderfella Auction that raised $7,000 toward the cause. Bidding was fierce on several Fellas like Ryan Golding of Mastaler Cleaning and Chip Hellus of Outer Limits, and BMH’s very own

Dan Santino and Andrzej Mikijaniec fetched nearly $1,000 themselves! The Development Office extends a special thanks to our 14 brave Fellas, 53 auction and in-kind donors, 75 sponsors and the numerous volunteers and attendees who all contributed to make this our most successful Gala yet.

Cinderfella auction bidders congratulate each other on their win.

Barry Beeman presented Stephen and Jane Baker with a scrapbook containing personal thank yous, tributes, photos and articles.

Jane and Stephen Baker

Office of Development17 Belmont Avenue, Suite 1Brattleboro, VT 05301

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Contributions is published quarterly.Editor: Ellen Smith

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As a remembrance of the evening and a thank you, BMH President & CEO, Barry Beeman presented Stephen and Jane Baker with a scrapbook containing personal thank yous, tributes, photos and articles. Guests attending the gala had an opportunity to write personal notes prior to the presentation and a list of all those who made gifts but were unable to attend was included in the back.

To see the video tribute to Stephen and Jane Baker,

visit the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital website at www.bmhvt.org/giving/GFTH

or our Facebook page.