Blythedale Honors Staff for Service to Patients, Families and Hospital

Seventy committed and caring staff members, representing a wide range of departments, were recently honored for their time and dedication to the “Blythedale Difference” during the Hospital’s annual Service Awards ceremony. 

President & CEO Larry Levine hosted the event and recognized long-time employees for their length of service — ranging from five to an astonishing 51 years! But, just who worked at Blythedale for more than half a century?

The answer: Kitchen Manager Patience Morrison.

She was hired by Blythedale’s Food and Nutrition Services Department in September 1969 and worked with multiple food service directors, who all agreed, the kitchen runs smoothly and without interruption because of her. 

Patience credits the kids and culture at Blythedale for her longevity in the position.

“The stimulation of Blythedale’s positive corporate culture and the joy of working with generations of children has made waking up and coming to work each day a real pleasure,” she said.

Coworkers call Patience the “heart and soul” of the Food & Nutrition Services Department. 

Day in and day out, she was there. Even during holidays like Thanksgiving where she prepared turkeys, sides and gravy for more than 200 patients, families and fellow staff members.

Patience has also been described as “a positive role model, mentor and leader”, as well as “the matriarch of her department”.

“It just goes to show you what a special place Blythedale is to work,” said Cindy De Muro, Human Resources Director.  “I look forward to many more years of celebrating our treasured colleagues.”

Congratulations to Patience and the other Service Award recipients for their commitment Blythedale Children’s Hospital.

FULL LIST OF 2020 SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS:

50 Years of Service
Patience Morrison

30 Years of Service
Mary Didie            
Barbara Donleavy-Hiller
Sharon Prouty            
Emerita Ruda

25 Years of Service
Elizabeth Godoy        
Cheryl Noye
Robert Radomski

20 Years of Service
Kathy Carroll            
Leelamma Cherian      
Robyn Connolly            
Jean Marie Florkowski 
Violet Humphrey         
John Settembrini
Kathy Silverman         
Mary Ann Young                              
Sandra Young

15 Years of Service
Laura Alvarez            
Ronalyn Appleton     
Kenneth Ferro             
Sunghee Han         
Susan Mitchell            
Denise Ridley

10 Years of Service
James Baird            
Stefanie Blanco    
Mary (Abby) Crane        
Alexis Deieso    
Edmonte Di Zenzo        
Maria Theresa Dy
Chana Katz            
Jessica Lake
Lauren Lorenz
Rocio Lukianovich        
Leslyne Marc    
Namfon Massaro        
Kelsey Mayer    
Kelly Jo Milano            
Meishagaye Mitchell Smith  
Virginia Pisani            
Lisa Ross            
Gerald Signorini            
Marcella Stanzione

5 Years of Service
Felecia Bartley             
Jennifer Bates    
Norah Bobolakis        
Tony Corda 
Jesabel Cruz Garcia        
Sarah Czarnecki
Elizabeth DeCecco        
Kara Dyer Dombroski
Ilana Finkelstein        
Kiersten Fiorio
Claudia Gbla            
Shanille Graham
Evgin Heath            
Dayna Henn    
Jennifer Kelly            
Jisun Kim
Keith Llewellyn            
Esa Madoff                        
Anu Mundackal
Susan Onatte            
Nina Premezzi    
Nino Reyes            
Mercy Rios-Floyd
Tameka Samuels        
Andrea Scala
Priti Shah                
Melissa Shemek                    
Anu Shyam