Signature HealthCare honors hall of fame inductees
Nona Bern is holding the plaque she accepted for her husband, Paul, at the Signature HealthCare Hall of Fame night on Thursday, November 2. Bern was chosen as the resident winner. The couple was married for 63 years when he passed away in February. Nona is surrounded by grandchildren at the event.
COSHOCTON – In 2003, a team at Signature HealthCare decided to honor residents who had accomplished amazing things in their lives that many people didn’t know about. In recent years, the corporate-wide program has expanded to include an employee and a volunteer at each facility.
At the Coshocton facility, the staff voted for their choice for each award and Sheri Sharier, Quality of Life Director, counted the votes.
“After I had the votes counted, I checked the work record of the nominated employee to be sure all criteria were met,” said Sharier.
The induction ceremony was held on Thursday, Nov. 2. Each of the recipients received a plaque that matches the ones that would hand in the “Hall of Fame” café at the facility for the next year. Pastor Mark Brodbeck welcomed the many attendees and read a short biography of each winner.
Paul Bern was chosen as the resident winner. He was chosen for academia, community involvement, distinguished military service and volunteerism. He was born in Iowa in 1929 and served in the Navy from 1948-1952. He married his college sweetheart, Nona, and they moved to Coshocton in 1979 when he accepted a position with General Electric. They were married for 63 and have two daughters. Bern passed away in February, but his legacy lives on.
His wife, Nona, accepted his plaque.
“We had such a wonderful life together,” she said. “He was an amazing man.”
Several of their grandchildren attended the event with her.
The volunteer award was given to Steve Young. He was chosen for his community involvement and volunteerism. He is from Kentucky and now lives in West Lafayette with his wife of 40 years, Vickie. They have one son and four grandchildren. He has been volunteering for 20 years in hospitals, for hospice and in healthcare facilities.
When asked why he volunteers, Young said, “I give credit to the Lord Jesus Christ for giving me a heart of compassion. I love what I do. So many people don’t have anyone to visit them and I like helping fill that need.”
Jerry Austin was chosen as the employee recipient for his academia, community involvement and volunteerism. He was born in Coshocton and married his wife, Janet, in 1983. They have one son and have fostered more than 20 children in the last few years. He was a farmer, who became an EMT. His wife worked at an MRDD facility and told him he had the personality to work there, too.
“I enjoyed working at Echoing Hills and being around people with disabilities. I did several jobs, there, and was encouraged to go to nursing school,” said Austin. “I enjoy being with the residents and the staff here is great to work with.”
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- Nona Bern is holding the plaque she accepted for her husband, Paul, at the Signature HealthCare Hall of Fame night on Thursday, November 2. Bern was chosen as the resident winner. The couple was married for 63 years when he passed away in February. Nona is surrounded by grandchildren at the event.
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