A dedication to helping the community stands the test of time

E. Herbert and A. Josephine Burk moved to Westfield, Mass., in the 1960s. Herbert was employed by Mestek, Inc., retiring in 1987 as the senior vice president of manufacturing, and was a corporator of Westfield Bank and the Westfield Athenaeum. Josephine was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Westfield and found much joy in spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the city’s Stanley Park.

When Mary O’Neil oversaw development and community relations at Noble Hospital, she worked with the Burks who were loyal donors to their community healthcare facility. After Herbert passed away, it was shared that the couple included the hospital in their estate plans.

Mary worked with Josephine to select a project to honor their support and, as a result, they recognized the family through the naming of the Burk Women’s Imaging Center at Baystate Noble Hospital.

“It was a delight to work with Mr. and Mrs. Burk,” shared Mary. “They were true examples of individuals who had a genuine interest in the overall wellbeing of the community in which they resided.”

Today, the Herbert & Josephine Burk Noble Hospital Fund, which is distributed through the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, continues to support some of the most vital needs at Baystate Noble Hospital – needs that do not always warrant a special event or ribbon cutting, but are integral to the hospital’s ability to continue to provide quality care to its patients. Recently, the Baystate Noble Hospital Facilities Team realized they needed to make crucial upgrades to the heating and ventilation system and they were able to utilize this fund to support the project without delaying access to care for patients. “

Seeking public support for an HVAC program can be challenging,” shared Ronald Bryant, president, Baystate Noble Hospital and Baystate Franklin Medical Center. “We are so grateful to the legacy of Herbert and Josephine Burk for having the vision to provide Baystate Noble with the resources to help with urgent projects like this one.”

The Burk’s dedication to the city of Westfield and their neighbors continues to be felt deeply. Though Herbert and Josephine passed away in 2006 and 2007, respectively, they continue to support their community through their decision to include Baystate Noble Hospital in their estate plans years ago.