South Nassau celebrates its many volunteers

“It’s so rewarding,” said an honored volunteer. “You get so much more than you give.”

That was a sentiment shared by many as South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside honored its pink-jacketed army of volunteers at a lunch on April 13. The hospital also celebrated the 60th anniversary of the volunteer program at the event, which hundreds of people attended.

A dozen volunteers received awards for their service. “I am proud to be part of this amazing group of men and women,” said Anne Fernandez, South Nassau’s volunteer services director. “This is an opportunity to thank each and every one of you for all your support to the mission of South Nassau.”

The Rev. James Steward II, South Nassau’s chaplain, led the invocation before the ceremony. “God, we thank you that they are the lifeline of our hospital,” he said of the volunteers, “because oftentimes they are on the front line doing work for the patients, serving when we don’t even see it.”

Richard Beckman, of Merrick, was honored for his 5,000 hours of volunteer service since December 1998. He volunteers twice a week at the messenger desk and trains new messengers. He also volunteers in Merrick schools and for the nonprofit organization Literacy Nassau in Freeport. “I feel I’m helping,” he said. “It’s better than watching television or playing computer games.”

Judy Delaney, of Rockville Centre, received the Five Star Award for her work in palliative care and clerical duties, and her 1,100 hours of service over the past three years. “She’s always wiling to assist whenever needed,” said Richard Murphy, South Nassau’s president and CEO,” and often comes in early and stays late, and comes in on weekends to make sure her work is completed. [She is] a calm, caring, organized and diligent person.”

Delaney said that the excellent care that her brother and father received when they were hospitalized at South Nassau inspired her to volunteer. “The nurses that took care of my father, they came to his wake,” she said. “I thought that showed a high level of care.” She also volunteers for the American Cancer Society, for which she drives patients to their treatments.

Four volunteers received the Shining Star Award for exceptional service: Anthony Maiorella, of Rockville Centre; Evelyn Pignotti, of Bellmore; Ruth McDadem, of Oceanside; and Dina Dellarata, of Howard Beach.

Maiorella sings and plays guitar for patients. He usually performs songs from the 1950s and ’60s — the music he grew up with. “I used to tell people I did oldies,” he said. “Then I had a lady that was 95, and she looked and laughed at me.”

After three years at North Shore-LIJ, he took his act to South Nassau seven years ago. He goes from room to room, asking patients if they want to hear music. “Music seems to take people to a different place,” he said. “I try to learn a little bit of a lot so I can ask people, ‘What do you want to hear?’”

Pignotti comes in four days a week. “If they need me another day, if they need me on Saturday, I’m there,” she said. She visits very sick patients to put smiles on their faces or listen to their stories.

Five years ago, she was hospitalized for two and a half months because her lungs were collapsing. She promised God that if he would get her through this, she would give back. A year later, she started to volunteer at South Nassau. “They inspire me,” she said of the patients. “You have nothing to complain about when you go to see them because they go through so much pain.”

McDade has volunteered for the past seven years. She works in the volunteer services office, and is also a messenger and visits patients. “I’ll go wherever they want me to go,” she said “I love it and I enjoy it.”

Her husband was hospitalized for two months before he died. “So I was here a long time and got to know a lot about the hospital,” McDade added. “And then it was something that would really help me move on, and it has.”

Hospital officials said that Dellarata enhances the patient experience as a member of the greeter program.

South Nassau also singled out volunteers at the Hewlett-based SIBSPlace, which provides support to children who are living with family members fighting cancer or other serious illnesses. The program provides after-school therapy, support and assistance for the children, especially as their parents may be in the hospital with the sick child.

The SIBSPlace Shining Stars were Joeanna Greenberg, of Hewlett; Ronnie Hirsch, of Woodmere; Audrey Turetsky, of Freeport; Georgene Winick, of Woodmere; and Victor and Judie Horowitz, of Oceanside.

A former psychologist, Winick knew about the program for many years and joined soon after she retired three years ago. “It’s a wonderful program, and the volunteers are wonderful,” she said. “Many of them are retired teachers and psychologists and engineers. They bring their expertise into the program as well as their love of children. And it’s an honor to be there.”

For the past 14 years, the Horowitzes have volunteered at SIBS, which they call their second family. Judie said that at one SIBS dinner, a girl said that she was happy that her younger sister was in remission, but she was upset because she thought she could not come to the program anymore. “The directors immediately assured her that once you come to SIBS, you’re family,” said Judie. “And family is forever.”

The girl and her sister — who stayed in remission — grew up, aged out of the program, and came back as volunteers.

“We’re grateful for the recognition, but the real honor is being associated with SIBS,” said Victor. “The most rewarding thing is seeing a youngster come in and really develop into a self-confident individual, age out and come back as a volunteer.”

After the ceremony, Maiorella played his guitar for everyone, singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”