Rochester Regional Health Archives

06/02/2026

Fifty Years Ago at The Genesee Hospital..
Donald R. Harter has been appointed to The Genesee Hospital Board of Governors, Thomas M. Bonnar, president of the Board, announced. Harter is a senior partner in the law firm of Harter, Secrest & Emery. He has served that firm and its predecessors since 1942 and became a partner in 1950. A graduate of Hobart College, Harter received his law degree from Cornell University. He is a member of the Monroe County, New York State and American Bar Associations; the American Judicial Society and is a fellow in the American College of Probate Counsel. Harter is also on the executive committee of the Trusts and Estate Section of the New York State Bar Association. Harter is active in many community agencies and institutions including the Community Chest, The Church Home and the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester. In addition he is a member of the Board of Trustees of Hobart and Williams Smith Colleges. Harter resides in Penfield with his wife, Ruth. they have three children. (The Genesee Inter-com, July-August 1976)

06/01/2026

Fifty Years Ago at RGH...
It Could Happen In America
Nguyen Thai Hoc, a Vietnamese refugee, has worked as an RGH O.R. orderly since last November. His supervisor is Ed Navarro, O.R. Manager, who fled Cuba in 1962 when the communists took over. Each left his native country with a wife and four children. Hoc was a Vietnamese Navy communications officer, with 45 people under his command. On April 29, 1975, the Americans were leaving Saigon, and the North Vietnamese were moving rapidly. Hoc had served in the Navy for 12 years at a naval base, five miles south of Saigon. Hoc was on duty, and stayed there even as most of his command decided to flee. Late in the afternoon, a friend from another base contacted his NY radio, telling him Hoc's family was on his boat. He urged him to come so they could escape. They would wait until 7 p.m. Rumors were rampant about what would happen to those who had served in the military. Shelling grew worse, and Hoc's C.O. told him the decision to stay or leave was up to him. Hoc decided to leave. Ten committee members met the Nguyens at the Rochester airport on October 26, 1975. The Naples group had rented a house, painted and redecorated it, found furniture, stocked the refrigerator with food, and paid the first two months rent. The children were entered in school. Jack Sparks, Unit Services, was on the employment committee. He brought Hoc here to apply for a job, and on November 22, 1975, there was an opening in O.R. as an orderly, a job where ironically he would work under a refugee from another time, whose family had also found a haven in America. For three months Jack brought Hoc back and forth to work until he was able to buy a used car. Since that time the family has been able to operate independently without financial or other assistance. They are rapidly becoming part of the American story. Jack Sparks reports that the family is adapting and doing well, and all of the Nguyens have great potential. Asked if they would like to go back to Vietnam someday to live if circumstances should change there, Hoc said simply, "This is my country, now!" (RGH Tempo, May-June 1976)

05/29/2026

Please join us for this special event! Space is limited so reserve your spot as soon as possible.

05/28/2026

Fifty Years Ago at Myers Community Hospital..
Appointed to Active Medical Staff
Steven S.T. Ching, M.D., joined the staff of the Wayne County Rural Comprehensive Health Program as a general practitioner. He received his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and has completed a rotating internship at M.I. Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown. Before coming to Sodus, Dr. Ching practiced general medicine in Boonville, N.Y. Dr. Ching and his wife, Mary, are living in Ontario, N.Y., with their daughter, Alison. Dr. Ching has a special interest in Pediatrics and spends most of his time at the Health Center caring for children. (Myers Community Hospital "Heartbeat" June-July 1976)

05/26/2026

Fifty Years Ago at The Genesee Hospital..
Who's New
Mr. Thomas L. Greenwood has been appointed Director of Community Relations at The Genesee Hospital. Mr. Greenwood, a resident of the Rochester area for 19 years, will be responsible for a wide-range of activities designed to promote greater understanding of the hospital's role within the community. Among his duties will be the supervision of the hospital's methods of communication with the public and the means by which financial support of the hospital's programs may be generated from the Rochester community. Mr. Greenwood, an MBA graduate of the University of Indiana, has an extensive background in management, planning and market research. Prior to joining the staff of The Genesee Hospital, he was an Account Executive for Reynolds Securities, Inc. (The Genesee Inter-com, March 1976)

05/25/2026

05/24/2026

Fifty Years Ago at St. Mary's Hospital...
Father George Freemesser, M.D., Psychiatrist and Basilian priest who interned at St. Mary's Hospital in 1960, conducted a special conference of the medical and dental staff this spring. The topic of his thought-provoking lecture was "Russian Servant." (The West Side Story, July 1976)

05/21/2026

Fifty Years Ago at Unity Hospital..
Tapestry Donated
Mrs. Santo Brancato recently donated to the hospital a wall hanging of blue and gold tapestry. The beautiful tapestry was given to Dr. and Mrs. Brancato in memory of Miss Martha Kiess, a nurse who worked for Dr. Brancato for over 25 years. The large and attractive work of art is located in the Out-Patient area of the hospital. The hand-stitched art adds color and beauty to the hospital surroundings. (Park Bench, May 1976)

05/20/2026

SAVE THE DATE!!!
June 17, 2026 doors open at 5:45 p.m.
Please join us at the RRH Archives as we have the honor of hosting Dr. William Valenti Dr. Valenti will be talking about Dr. John Washburn and the impact he made in Rochester.

Full program details coming soon!

05/20/2026

Fifty Years Ago at The Genesee Hospital...
Dentistry Department Bridging Deaf Communication Gap
Thirteen members of the Department of Dentistry staff are enthusiastically involved in a 'finger-spelling' course to enable them to communicate better with the deaf patients. The course, taught by volunteers from the Rochester School for the Deaf, is the brainchild of Dr. Harvey Levy, a second-year general dentistry resident at Genesee's Wasyl Pluta Center for Oral Health. Last year while serving as a rotating resident the Eastman Dental Center, Dr. Levy participated in a similar course and felt that Genesee's Dentistry Department could benefit from it. He contacted the School for the Deaf and arranged for the program. (The Genesee Inter-com, March 1976)