Catholic Health World

Employee's gift will help expand children's hospital

A $2.5 million posthumous gift from a former employee and his wife will help St. John's Mercy Children's Hospital in St. Louis to expand its facilities.

The funds are from Robert and Helene Hoffmann. Robert Hoffmann worked as a master electrician in the maintenance department at St. John's Mercy Medical Center for over 15 years. He died in 2001, bequeathing his estate to his widow. She gave $250,000 to St. John's Mercy in 2002 to name the entrance of the St. John's Mercy Child Development Center in honor of her husband. A plaque recalls their generosity.

Helene Hoffmann died last year, willing her estate to the foundation at St. John's Mercy. The couple was childless.

The children's medical center at the hospital will use the multimillion dollar gift for an expansion, and it will name its pediatric emergency department in the Hoffmanns' honor.

Helene Hoffmann had said that she wanted the gifts to be used in the pediatric area of St. John's Mercy because her husband had praised that department, and he was fond of children.

Patty Arnold, president of the St. John's Mercy Foundation, said the Hoffmanns' gifts serve as "a wonderful example of a co-worker's dedication to the mission of St. John's Mercy."

Theirs is the largest gift the pediatric department has ever received.

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