AUBURN - Melinda Gleason's T-shirt said it all as she walked through the hall of the Finger Lakes Center For Living.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Melinda Gleason is retiring after working for more than 50 years for Auburn Memorial Hospital.
Melinda Gleason is retiring after working for more than 50 years for Auburn Memorial Hospital.
Emblazoned across her shirt was the slogan “I'm Rockin', I'm Rollin', I'm Retiring.”
After 50 years of service to Auburn Memorial Hospital, Gleason earned an impressive milestone as the longest serving employee of the hospital, according to a statement from Marc Sorbello, assistant director of community relations for the hospital.
May 17 officially marked Gleason's 50th anniversary, but she decided to stay on for a while longer.
“It feels good,” Gleason said. “I'm a little nervous really. This is like my second home, my second family. I'm used to seeing the staff and everyone here everyday, they have all really become like family to me.”
Gleason, who retired as a diet clerk, began her career at AMH at the age of 16.
“After my dad passed I thought I should help my mother,” Gleason said. “So I started working here part-time.”
In her five decades at the hospital, Gleason has served in many capacities.
She said she began as a part-time employee, working the tray line in the kitchen, as well as doing things like preparation and kitchen cleaning.
By 1962, she had become a full-time employee working the floors of the geriatric and maternity wards in the hospital.
“I've done a little bit of everything,” Gleason said. “I helped patients with their meal choices and really I just tried to spend a little bit of time with them. Just spending five minutes with people, trying to make them smile, that has always made me feel good.”
Gleason brought this philosophy with her when she moved over to the Finger Lakes Center For living in 1995 when it opened its doors.
Over the past 18 years, Gleason has done much of the same work she had previously done at the hospital, assisting patients with their meal choices three times daily, but she has always tried to bring more than just the practicalities of her job into the patients' rooms with her.
“People just want a little company,” Gleason said. “I've just always tried to treat people like I would want to be treated or how I would like my family to be treated.”
Along the way, Gleason not only made an impact on the patients she has worked with, but also with their families and her co-workers.
Gleason had earned the nickname “The Candy Lady,” being known to always have some candy or jellybeans that she was always happy to share with anyone.
But on Friday, the tables were turned a little bit.
Gleason was showered with a special lunch, as well as endless greetings, cards, hugs and flowers, a position that Gleason was not used to being in, but was flattered by nonetheless.
“I don't feel like I've done anything special,” she said. “But all of this really makes me feel good, like I've done something on my own.”
Looking back, Gleason admits that as a 16-year-old girl, she didn't anticipate being at the hospital all these years later, but she has no regrets.
“I expected to work other places,” Gleason said. “I expected to do other things. But we have a good team here. That is the most important thing. We have a really good team and we really are like family. I have no regrets. When I lasted 20 years I wanted to see if I could reach 30 and then 40 and then I made 50 my goal and I can honestly say that I have reached my goal.”
After 50 years of service to Auburn Memorial Hospital, Gleason earned an impressive milestone as the longest serving employee of the hospital, according to a statement from Marc Sorbello, assistant director of community relations for the hospital.
May 17 officially marked Gleason's 50th anniversary, but she decided to stay on for a while longer.
“It feels good,” Gleason said. “I'm a little nervous really. This is like my second home, my second family. I'm used to seeing the staff and everyone here everyday, they have all really become like family to me.”
Gleason, who retired as a diet clerk, began her career at AMH at the age of 16.
“After my dad passed I thought I should help my mother,” Gleason said. “So I started working here part-time.”
In her five decades at the hospital, Gleason has served in many capacities.
She said she began as a part-time employee, working the tray line in the kitchen, as well as doing things like preparation and kitchen cleaning.
By 1962, she had become a full-time employee working the floors of the geriatric and maternity wards in the hospital.
“I've done a little bit of everything,” Gleason said. “I helped patients with their meal choices and really I just tried to spend a little bit of time with them. Just spending five minutes with people, trying to make them smile, that has always made me feel good.”
Gleason brought this philosophy with her when she moved over to the Finger Lakes Center For living in 1995 when it opened its doors.
Over the past 18 years, Gleason has done much of the same work she had previously done at the hospital, assisting patients with their meal choices three times daily, but she has always tried to bring more than just the practicalities of her job into the patients' rooms with her.
“People just want a little company,” Gleason said. “I've just always tried to treat people like I would want to be treated or how I would like my family to be treated.”
Along the way, Gleason not only made an impact on the patients she has worked with, but also with their families and her co-workers.
Gleason had earned the nickname “The Candy Lady,” being known to always have some candy or jellybeans that she was always happy to share with anyone.
But on Friday, the tables were turned a little bit.
Gleason was showered with a special lunch, as well as endless greetings, cards, hugs and flowers, a position that Gleason was not used to being in, but was flattered by nonetheless.
“I don't feel like I've done anything special,” she said. “But all of this really makes me feel good, like I've done something on my own.”
Looking back, Gleason admits that as a 16-year-old girl, she didn't anticipate being at the hospital all these years later, but she has no regrets.
“I expected to work other places,” Gleason said. “I expected to do other things. But we have a good team here. That is the most important thing. We have a really good team and we really are like family. I have no regrets. When I lasted 20 years I wanted to see if I could reach 30 and then 40 and then I made 50 my goal and I can honestly say that I have reached my goal.”
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CryinRyan wrote on Sep 6, 2008 11:22 PM: