BEACON — November 2011 - Beebe Medical Center

A Ceremonial Cake Cutting by the fivepast presidents and current president of theAuxiliary was part of the 75th Anniversaryluncheon event on October 23, 2011.Pictured, left to right, are ElizabethSurbaugh, Elaine Dewey-Shupe,Erna Steinbruck, Patricia Sandy,Gloria Dill, and Michael Clemmer,current Auxiliary President.Beebe Auxiliary Celebrates 75 YearsJeffrey M. Fried, FACHE, President and CEO of Beebe Medical Center, unveils arendering of the new Interfaith Chapel funded in total by $305,000 raised bythe Beebe Auxiliary.Looking to the futureThe early 1930s was an exciting time for Beebe Medical Center. Despite theGreat Depression that had paralyzed the nation, historical records show thatmoney was flowing into Lewes to fund the growth of the tiny, three-room hospitalthat had been established in 1916 by Lewes physician brothers Drs. Richard andJames Beebe. In 1927, Wilmington residents Benjamin F. and Helen M. Shawfunded the construction of the now familiar white building—and donated morefunds that eventually led to a hospital of 60 beds. Wilmington resident MaryThompson, also interested in having a hospital in the popular resort area ofRehoboth Beach, in 1934 raised $100,000 to expand the hospital, paying forwhat is now known as the Thompson Wing.In 1936, with a backdrop of a burgeoning hospital and a nursing school constantlyin need of new supplies, a group of women got together in Lewes in thehome of Mrs. Edwin Marshall to form a new organization. Born that day was theJunior Auxiliary of the Beebe Hospital of Sussex County Inc., the predecessor ofthe Beebe Medical Auxiliary. The organization’s purpose was “to promote the8