Floyd H. Firenze

[Originally published in CPMC Foundation’s newsletter Prime Scene, March 2009]

The Spark That Deepened a Patient’s Appreciation

When Floyd Firenze walks through the doors of California Pacific Medical Center, he knows he’ll be cared for like family. “That’s how they treat you,” Floyd says. After years of regular visits to CPMC by himself and his late wife, Ginny, Floyd says gratefully, “CPMC has always taken good care of both of us.”

Like many thankful patients and family members touched by kindness and the medical care they received, the Firenzes became donors along the way. This blossomed into a legacy gift when the healing turned personal.

Floyd and Ginny were married for more than 50 years. They both worked at the Pacific Bell Telephone Company, first in Stockton and then in San Francisco, where they remained until retirement.

Through the years, Floyd has sought medical attention for a variety of issues, including herniated discs, hip replacement and heart stints. Ginny suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for most of her life and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in her later years.

A Doctor’s Concern
In 2000, Ginny spent an afternoon in the ER, waiting for a diagnosis. She recovered at home shortly thereafter. Then, Floyd received an unusual call that endeared him to his Medical Center. He explained his feelings in a letter of appreciation to CPMC Foundation.

“Now, we get to the trigger point,” Floyd clarified. “Your Dr. Michael Rokeach had the ‘audacity’ to call Sunday evening and ask, ‘How is your wife doing?’ … That blew me away.” Only one other doctor had ever called him before, he said.

Moved by the physician’s personal concern for their well-being, Floyd asked the Foundation how they could leave a bequest to California Pacific in their will. He has stayed in touch ever since.

Believers in the Healing Mission
When Ginny’s disability became too much to handle on their own, she, and later Floyd, moved into San Francisco Towers, a life-care community, where they spent their days together until Ginny’s death in 2005.

Today, Floyd continues to live an active life at San Francisco Towers. He particularly looks forward to the Foundation’s Legacy Society presentations on the latest medical advances. “They are very informative,” says Floyd, who found the up-to-date news on arthritis treatments and heart stints particularly interesting.

The Firenzes’ bequest is a thank-you for the level of care and attention they received, as well as a show of faith in California Pacific. “I’m convinced that their mission is to take good care of the people in their charge,” Floyd says of CPMC. “The care my wife and I have received over the years has been exceptional.”

They have designated their legacy gift for where the need is greatest, helping extend quality care to their community.