Since 1977, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital has recognized individuals and groups for outstanding community service, compassion and leadership through the Good Samaritan of the Year Award. The pandemic has prevented us from continuing this tradition until now. This year, we’re pleased to recognize the following individuals and groups: Donna Wadycki and Fred Widmann, Robert Hurdle, DDS, and Pat Hurdle, and Cardiac Surgery Associates.
Donna Wadycki and Fred Widmann are the recipients of the 2020 Good Samaritan of the Year Award. Both Donna and Fred credit their families for instilling in them a passion for giving back.
“I grew up on a farm, and my parents were always involved in the community and their church,” shares Donna. “We didn’t have a lot, but we were always thinking of ways to help others.”
“My aunt started her own organization to help the less fortunate and even adopted a child in need,” adds Fred. “Donna and I both come from families who set great examples that we follow to this day.”
Donna’s volunteer roles in the community, at church and at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital are almost too numerous to count. She was an auxiliary member before the hospital was even built. Over the decades, she has served on various boards, task forces and committees, and has volunteered at the Information Desk as well as at The Gingham Tree.
Fred, a U.S. Army veteran and widower, spent the majority of his career at IBM. He also served as a volunteer firefighter for 15 years. In 2011, Fred began volunteering at The Gingham Tree, where he met Donna. Their relationship flourished, and Fred even proposed to Donna in the store!
Together, Donna and Fred have accumulated more than 15,000 service hours. They are also generous donors.
“Our late spouses both had cancer and received exceptional care at the hospital. It’s why we each dedicated a room in the Bhorade Cancer Center to support its expansion,” explains Donna. “We also donated to the hospital’s pharmacy in honor of my late son.”
“We’ve been fortunate in our lives and can give back,” says Fred. “We donate because we’re passionate about helping others.”
Our 2021 Good Samaritan of the Year Award recipients are Robert Hurdle, DDS, and Pat Hurdle. Bob and Pat have been active in their community since they were very young.
“We grew up in the same town and started dating in high school when we were both in the church choir,” shares Bob. “We were married six years later.”
In 1961, Bob joined the U.S. Air Force as a dentist. After his service, he opened his own practice, Grove Dental Associates, in Downers Grove.
Pat chaired a preschool committee and worked at a local food pantry. She’s served in a variety of roles and committees at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.
In 2010, Bob and Pat began volunteering at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. Pat has volunteered at The Gingham Tree and at the hospital’s Safety Fair. Bob has volunteered at the Main Information Desk and acted as a tour guide.
They both continue to be auxiliary members, with Bob having served as the first male Auxiliary president, in addition to participating in several other councils and committees.
“Volunteering is good for your health. It provides mental stimulation and keeps us active,” says Pat. “It also gives us a sense of purpose.”
“When you volunteer at The Gingham Tree, you’re part of a family,” says Pat. “You make a lot of friends, and everybody works together to make the place the best it can be.”
“I enjoy meeting new people and helping them check in,” adds Bob. “Sometimes people are anxious or scared, and it’s the best feeling when I can make them smile or laugh.”
The pair has accumulated nearly 12,000 service hours at Advocate Good Samaritan. However, their generosity does not end there. They also choose to philanthropically support the hospital because of family members who received care there. And Bob credits the hospital with saving his life.
“Pat and I both had heart scans here even though neither of us had any symptoms. She passed with flying colors, but I had 80-85% blockage,” he explains. “That scan, and a great heart surgeon, saved my life.”
Cardiac Surgery Associates (CSA) has been a strong partner and loyal donor to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital for over three decades. The group’s physicians staff Advocate Good Samaritan’s cardiac surgery department under the leadership of Dr. Juan Bonilla, director of cardiovascular surgery. Its physicians also staff cardiac surgery departments at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. CSA serves the greater community with locations in Iowa, Rockford, Urbana and Indianapolis.
The group prides itself on compassionately restoring the fullness of health to patients through surgical excellence, technology and dedication.
In addition to their talent, CSA has also invested nearly $660,000 in donations to Advocate hospitals, with the majority of funds supporting Advocate Good Samaritan.
“By supporting Advocate Good Samaritan and other Advocate hospitals, we can help secure the latest technology and most innovative procedures, which in turn allows us to attract the best physicians,” explains John Barakat, CFO/COO.
“When doctors have the best tools at their disposal, they get better at what they do, and we can make sure there isn’t an empty seat at the dinner table. Philanthropy keeps cardiac care and surgery up to date while helping to save lives.”
Because of the group’s dedication and generosity, Advocate Good Samaritan is pleased to honor Cardiac Surgery Associates as the recipient of the 2022 Good Samaritan of the Year Award.
How you can help
Every donation makes a difference for our patients, families and team members. Please consider making a gift to support Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital today. To learn about volunteer opportunities, please contact Melissa Chumbley.