Bronxville Volunteer's Golden Anniversary

Bronxville's Helen Lovell is celebrating her 50th anniversary of volunteering at Lawrence Hospital Center. Lovell has had many positions at the medical center, including volunteering at the gift shop and office assistant to the director of volunteers. She also served as recording secretary, treasurer and president of the hospital's auxiliary.

Lovell started volunteering at the medical center back in 1963, working at the information desk every other Friday night.

“I answered phones, delivered newspapers and took patients to and from their rooms, a lot like what is done today,” said Lovell. 

Lovell got the idea to volunteer while working at J.P. Morgan Chase in the early 60s. The bank's vice president suggested that the recent college graduate volunteer after he found out that she lived in Bronxville. At that time, the company's vice president, William McRitchie, was on Lawrence Hospital's Board of Governors.

“He told me I should give back to the community and since I lived in Bronxville, I should consider volunteering at Lawrence Hospital,” said Lovell. “I answered phones, delivered newspapers and took patients to and from their rooms, a lot like what is done today.

Lovell has seen a lot of changes at the Bronxville hospital, including two reconstructions and the strike of 1964.

“It was something to see. The wives in town came in to cook meals for the patients and the husbands would come here after work to clean. The whole community worked to keep the hospital functioning during the work stoppage,” said Lovell.

People in the community and Lawrence Hospital's Director of Volunteers Terry Martino can't thank Lovell enough for her decades of hard work and dedication.

“Helen is so organized and always gives 150%. I don’t know what I’d do without her support and most importantly her friendship. She’s an extraordinary volunteer who has given so much through the years,” said Martino.