October 23, 1998

Joan O'Connor, RN
30 years

Irving Blank, MD, 60 years

Jennifer Dubose, LPN
25 years

Vincent Perlo, 50 years

Sandy Hession, 20 years

Pieces of MGH history reveal themselves each year on Ether Day as the hospital applauds its employees – some who have worked at the MGH for more than half their lives – for their years of service. Among the 1,314 honored at the event, which took place Oct. 16 underneath the Bulfinch Tent, was 60-year recipient Irvin Blank, PhD, of Dermatology, whose groundbreaking studies of the skin and its properties, gave him the title, "the father of moisturizer."

Mary Dickie, 30 years
Jeanette Ives-Erickson, RN, MS,
10 years

Blank, who is 96, shared the spotlight with fellow 60-year recipient Raymond Adams, MD, chief of Neurology from 1951 to 1978. Adams, who is 87, was instrumental in helping to establish Neurology's training program, which is ranked today among the best in the country. While serving at the MGH, he earned an international reputation both as an authority on neurological diseases and as an inspiring teacher.

Dorothy Bakon, 25 years; Ahzella Decosta, 25 years; Shirley Mitchell, 30 years; James J. Mongan, MD, MGH president

          
The six 50-year employees, who together total 300 years of service, include Anne Godley, MD, Medicine; Jerome Gross, MD, Dermatology; John Nemiah, MD, Psychiatry; Vincent Perlo, MD, Neurology; Paul Russell, MD, Surgery; and John Stoeckle, MD, Medicine. These individuals, along with all other employees celebrating 20, 25, 30, 40 and 60 years, were additionally recognized at the annual Ether Day dinner held at the Sheraton Boston Oct. 22.

Nicholas Zervas, MD, 40 years

James J. Mongan, MD, president of the MGH, extended his congratulations to all recipients at last week's Ether Day ceremony, which each year recognizes employees who have worked 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 or 60 years. "I am enormously impressed by the length of time people are associated with this institution." he said. "The reason the MGH is great is right here under this tent."