Resident Receives Presidential Service Award

BRIDGEPORT — Don Treadwell of Newtown was one of 33 Bridgeport Hospital volunteers recently honored with a lifetime achievement award from President George W. Bush for service to the hospital and community.

Each of the volunteers has contributed at least 4,000 hours to the hospital. Some have exceeded 10,000 hours of service, including Jessie Hall of Trumbull, who leads all active hospital volunteers with 16,000 lifetime hours.

The President’s Call to Service Award was created following the President’s appeal in 2002 to all Americans to dedicate time to community or government service. The honorees each received a lapel pin engraved with the USA Freedom Corps American bald eagle symbol, a personalized certificate, and congratulatory letter from the President.

“I appreciate everything you’ve done for our hospital through the lives you have touched,” Bridgeport Hospital President and CEO Robert Trefry told the volunteers at a breakfast held in their honor. “Through your inspiration, we will hopefully see more volunteerism at Bridgeport Hospital and in the rest of the community.”

In addition to Mr Treadwell, the honorees this year included Olga Dumas, Valerie Lattanzi, Elmon Raiford and Claudia Sczyrek, all of Bridgeport; Joan Crossman of Fairfield; Elsie Doyle, Ann Martin, Bill Martin, Jim Nies and Lillian Schlump of Shelton.

Also, Arlene Battistelli, Joan Bettini, Roseann Campbell, Nancy Caulfield, Sally Ciccia, Natalie Collings, Grace Conway, Eleanor Dembowski, Lovey Hungerford, Anne Lausen, Joe Mezick, Frank Peason, Mary Ann Peterson, Don Pitman, Jackie Santarsiero and Mary Santarsiero, all of Stratford; and Wilma Andrews, Jessie Hall, Charles Jagetz, Nina Plukas, Marge Presson, and Gina Ryan, all of Trumbull.

“You can all wear your lapel pins with pride,” volunteer coordinator Patricia Chervenak told the group. “You are all deserving of this honor and I thank you personally for all that you do.”

Volunteers assist in many areas of Bridgeport Hospital, including patient care units, administrative departments, and the gift shop. For information on volunteer opportunities at the hospital, call 203-384-3492.