May 12, 2000

Clifford Douglas Stewart III may not have been an MGH employee, but many considered him a true MGHer. Stewart, who worked for Walsh Brothers Construction Company and spent 20 years working with the Planning Office at the MGH, died last year at the age of 47. In his memory, many of his former colleagues, friends and family members have established a scholarship that will allow employees of the MGH, Walsh Brothers or other contractors working at the MGH, to take college or construction trade courses. Funding for the scholarship comes from private donors and a large donation from Walsh Brothers.

"Those of us who worked with Cliff often found ourselves asking 'How did he know that?'" says Jim Guiry, senior construction manager in the MGH Planning Office, part of the Partners Real Estate and Facilities Department. "Although Cliff worked for Walsh Brothers, I honestly feel that he was so dedicated to the MGH that the hospital was his top priority."

According to his former colleagues, Stewart, who worked nearly 60 hours a week at the MGH, knew how almost everything worked within the complex campus of the hospital. "Cliff built half the hospital," says David Hanitchak, of the MGH Planning Office. "I see his hand everywhere I go." Stewart's sudden death unleashed a tremendous outpouring of emotion. People wanted to memorialize him because he represented the very best in collaborative relationships.

"We were so moved when we heard that the MGH was putting together the scholarship in Cliff's name, and we wanted to do anything we could to help," says Richard C. Walsh, vice president for Walsh Brothers. "Cliff would have loved the idea of helping those in his profession advance their careers. We are pleased to have the opportunity to help make that a reality."

Stewart also was well known to many outside of the MGH Planning Office and Walsh Brothers. Helen Doherty, RD, director of Nutrition and Food Services, worked closely with Stewart when the Eat Street Cafe was built. "I admired Cliff," says Doherty. "He was brilliant yet generous with his knowledge. In rebuilding the Department of Nutrition and Food Services he, more than anyone, could sum up a difficult day and have a quiet word or two that would convince me that the light at the end of the tunnel was not an oncoming train."

A memorial plaque in Stewart's honor will be placed at the bottom of the stairs outside the Eat Street Cafe. A dedication ceremony will be held May 18 at 3:30 pm in the Garden Room of the Eat Street Cafe.

Applications for the scholarship will be available May 19 through the Planning Office; Human Resources on White 14; at the Walsh Brothers site office in the Gray basement; and headquarters offices of Buildings and Grounds, Police and Security, Nutrition and Food Services and the Volunteer Department. For more information, call 6-2442 or send e-mail to Jim Guiry at jguiry@partners.org.

Stewart, right, with James H. Walsh III, president of Walsh Brothers.