Auburn Memorial Hospital (AMH) and everyone in our community lost a very special friend on Jan. 29 when Dr. Edwin T. Dailey passed away. He was much loved and respected, and his loss will be deeply felt. In his 30 years as a radiologist at AMH, he served patients with the best of care and with the dedication and compassion of a great physician.

In his memory and to honor his wisdom and his wit, I would like to share some of his words from an event held at AMH on Feb. 15 last year, when he was the keynote speaker. The event celebrated the naming of the new CT suite at AMH in his honor: #”The Edwin T. Dailey CT Suite.#” A plaque bearing his image can be seen by everyone who visits the suite.

At the time he made this speech, Dr. Dailey was already aware of the serious health challenge he was facing, and was undergoing treatment which made him feel ill much of the time. But his charming smile and cheerful spirit never wavered. What follows are excerpts from the speech he gave that night.

“I would like to make a few remarks somewhat in the style of Andy Rooney #( and I'll call these notes ‘What I've Learned' or ‘What I Know.'

“First, I learned at a very early age not to pay much attention to class distinctions, and to look at people based on how they were, not on their station or financial or social status in life.

“I learned from a group of radiology mentors that I could and should learn and grow throughout my life.

“I learned from my medical school roommate, Dr. Ray Traver, that there are a thousand ways to make pasta with sauces.

“I learned that even in what is a small and struggling community, there can be unimagined joy and happiness if one simply decides to make a genuine commitment to service and participation.

“I learned that even in a small and struggling community hospital, there can be exceptional quality of medical care and nursing care.

“I know that my colleagues in the radiology department, the technologists, sonographers, mammographers, administrative personnel, aides, file personnel and transcriptionists were and are dedicated and loyal and second to none.

“(To the new physicians who have recently joined the AMH medical staff) If you new guys stay the course through the ups and downs of a day-to-day practice, you will reap unimagined joy and respect, and learn that this place is indeed a wonderful place to practice and a great place to raise your families. Caveat #- you must like all four seasons!

“I learned that I was not being ‘weak' when I accepted the kindness and the talents of others during this period of illness and uncertainty. I learned that I could indeed be strengthened by the kind thoughts, wishes and prayers of so many others.

“I also learned that there is not much greater a feeling than to have one's grandchild sit on one's lap and say, ‘Read to me, Grandpa.'

“I now know that all we're here for is to manifest loving kindness and patience.

“I've learned that being in this profession, and having people entrusting their bodies to your care, is truly a sacred calling, and that by extension, this facility - yes, even this little community hospital #- is a sacred place. I believe that this facility is arguably the most vital facility in Auburn and its environs. I believe that our hospital deserves and has earned the trust and confidence of its people.

“There is an old saying that it will be a great day when schools (and here we can substitute the word hospitals) have all the funds they need, and the Air Force has to have a bake sale to buy a bomber. It will indeed be a great day, but I don't see that around the corner, and so we all need to do our part to the best of our ability when the time comes to help.

“Well, it's been a great ride, these past 30 years, and they seem like a blur now. But the memories of the caring and the affection that I've received are no blur at all. They are carried by me each and every day, and the one emotion that dominates all my days is gratitude.”

Beverly Miller is the director of community relations and the Hospital Foundation at Auburn Memorial Hospital.