The Owen Sound Regional Hospital Foundation has received a $1-million donation from the estate of a late Hanover man.
The foundation says Mervyn Pfeffer of Hanover passed away on Sept. 18, 2021 at the age of 88, and his will named the foundation as the sole beneficiary.
Grey Bruce Health Services President and CEO Gary Sims says, “it’s a tremendous gift – one that will make a real difference for our clinical teams and patients.”
The foundation says the money will assist to fund the hospital’s greatest needs and ensure local residents continue to receive quality care close to home.
According to the foundation, the annual list of equipment needs for Owen Sound equals a total on average of about $10 million, which includes high priority equipment from across the hospital. This year includes new workstations on wheels for nurses, an OR table used for hip and knee surgery, and systems to track and sterilize surgical instruments.
Pfeffer grew up on the family farm in Normanby Township and moved to Hanover in 1959 where he spent the rest of his life. The foundation says his family and friends described him as a man of few words, hard-working and reliable.
Friend David Blasing says, “Mervyn was raised to live modestly, work hard and share what he had. He was proud to share vegetables with his neighbours. Now everyone in Hanover will benefit from his generous donation to the Regional Hospital.”
Between 1995 and 2015, Pfeffer donated to the foundation regularly, and at some point made a will naming the foundation as his beneficiary.
The foundation says while out on a walk, Pfeffer had a fall and required emergency surgery in London. His follow-up care and recovery occurred in Owen Sound, where he then returned to Hanover to live his final years at Saugeen Villa.
Foundation Chair Joanne Horton says only with the help of the community can they keep their hospitals well equipped to meet the needs of patients.
“Mervyn Pfeffer’s legacy is one of better hospital care for his friends and neighbours! I hope people from Hanover and everyone in Grey and Bruce will celebrate this donation with us,” says Horton.
