Saint Francis - Hospital and Health Centers

About 500 people attended The Franciscan Award Gala Saturday night. The award, highest honor Saint Francis Hospital bestows on individuals, was presented to Eleanor M. Herman, RN, Joan E. Mandy, RN, E. Richard and Catherine O’Shea, and Dr. J. Keith Festa. Each has served the hospital in various capacities for a number of years.

Each of the honorees has served the hospital in various capacities for a number of years.

 

The 30^th annual Franciscan Award Gala was held at The Grandview in Poughkeepsie. The black-tie affair began with a Celebration Reception followed by the awards presentation, dinner and dancing. Proceeds from the event will fund a variety of ongoing projects at the hospital.

 

Herman is a 1954 graduate of the Saint Francis Hospital School of Nursing who first became part of Saint Francis as a nurse’s aide. She was 14 years old. For 27 years, she worked in the Poughkeepsie City School District as a school nurse teacher. A mother of three and grandmother of three, Herman continues to be an integral part of the Saint Francis community where she is a member (and former co-president) of the Auxiliary. Continuing to give back to the hospital and her community, she is a member of the hospital’s Mair Legacy Society – honoring those who provide for the future of the hospital through their estate plans. 

 

Mandy, a 1953 graduate of the Saint Francis Hospital School of Nursing, worked for 27 years as a school nurse teacher in the Marlboro Central School District. She was coordinator of health education/health services and a curriculum writer for Orange County and Ulster County BOCES. Like her close friend, Eleanor Herman, she is an active members of the hospital Auxiliary and served (with Herman) as co-president. Mandy is also a member of the Mair Legacy Society. A mother of six and grandmother of eight, she sings in the Mount Saint Alphonsus Choir.

 

Together, the O’Sheas have devoted 40 years to Saint Francis Hospital. Starting as a volunteer, Cathy O’Shea, a retired history teacher, has been employed in the Pastoral Care Department since 1985. She continues to give back to the Saint Francis community by chairing the Sister Ann Elizabeth Employee Assistance Fund and has been involved since its inception. Dick has been a hospital trustee since 1995. The President of First Mortgage Corp., he continues to give to Saint Francis Hospital by chairing the Saint Francis Home Care board of trustees, as well as sitting on the hospital’s investment committee. The O’Sheas have been married for 50 years and have three children and nine grandchildren.

 

Dr. Festa was born at Saint Francis Hospital and raised in Marlboro. After college and medical school (in Italy), he returned to Marlboro where he opened a private practice and became the school district physician. In 2003, he joined Saint Francis Hospital full time as Vice President Medical Affairs/Chief Medical Officer. First as a doctor and then as an administrator, he has gained the respect and admiration of the medical community. Outside of his clinical work, he devotes much time and energy as an active member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. He resides in Marlboro with his wife, Ann Marie. They have three children.