AGH/FVM family saddened by loss of longtime supporter Mary Hugessen
Members of the Almonte General Hospital (AGH) Board of Directors, AGH/Fairview
Manor (FVM) Foundation Board of Directors, AGH and FVM physicians, staff and
volunteers are deeply saddened by the passing of Mary Hugessen on September 15, 2013.
Mrs. Hugessen had a strong connection to health care in our community. Her
grandfather’s uncle, Bennett Rosamond, built the Rosamond Memorial Hospital, which
served the area for more than 50 years. Her grandfather, Alexander Rosamond, and her
grandmother, Mary Rosamond, both served on the Rosamond Hospital Board of
Directors.
Mrs. Hugessen’s aunt, Norah Hughes, represented the Rosamond family at the 1961
official opening of AGH. In 1982, the Hospital’s complex continuing care wing was
named the Rosamond Unit to recognize the family’s contributions to local hospital
services.
Mrs. Hugessen moved to Almonte with her husband, Jim, in 1990 and joined the AGH
Board in 1994. She served on the Hospital Board until 2003, including three years as
Chair. During her tenure as Chair, the Hospital and County of Lanark negotiated the
agreement that led to the transfer of Fairview Manor to AGH, the redevelopment of AGH
and the construction of the new Manor.
Mrs. Hugessen was also a founding member of the AGH/FVM Foundation Board, which
undertook the Quality Care For Life capital campaign to raise $4 million for the
redevelopment project. Mrs. Hugessen Co-chaired the Campaign, which ultimately raised
$4.5 million. She chaired the leadership gift committee, and she her husband donated
$150,000 to the Campaign.
Mrs. Hugessen was Chair of the Foundation Board when the AGH/FVM redevelopment
project was officially opened in 2008.
“I considered it an honour to serve on the AGH/FVM Board and Foundation Board,”
Mrs. Hugessen said in an interview in 2011. “But the big thing for me was the campaign
to redevelop the Hospital and Manor. I think of my time as being part of putting it all
together.”
After leaving the Foundation Board, Mrs. Hugessen remained a strong supporter of the
Hospital and Manor.
“On behalf of everyone in the AGH family, I would like to extend our deepest sympathy
to Mrs. Hugessen’s family,” said AGH President and CEO Mary Wilson Trider.
“Through her generous gifts of time, talent and philanthropy she made an enormous
contribution to health care in our community that will benefit patients and residents for
many years to come.”
CUTLINE
Mary Hugessen