Lou Ann Quinn, who was described as a perfectionist, noticed that her plaque was slightly off-kilter.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire Medical Center colleagues took a moment in the emergency room to honor Lou Ann Quinn and her 47-year career caring for North County.
Quinn, a registered nurse and director of operations for the North Adams Campus, recently retired but visited the hospital Monday as friends and colleagues unveiled a plaque memorializing her permanently in the emergency room.
"You have been incredibly important to each of us at the hospital here and now, when anyone shows up, they will always see you and know that you were such a big part of everything," said Dr. Michael McHugh, Emergency Department chairman.
Quinn started working at the then-North Adams Regional Hospital in the 1970s. According to her colleagues, she was the steady hand that guided the North Adams campus through its reopening under BMC after the hospital closed in 2014.
"There is definitely a hole that is going to be hard to fill that's for sure," said Jennifer Dowling, operational manager of the emergency room and medical/surgical inpatient care. "She was a one-woman show here for nine years after the hospital closed … she did everything."
At the gathering, education specialist Eileen Rockefeller reflected on her many years working with Quinn and lauded her leadership, adding it was one of the main reasons the North Adams Campus has come so far.
"You have been a rock to this place, for the satellite [emergency facility], the North Adams Regional, and for me," she said. "The satellite's success is due to you. You did everything you could for this community, the patients, and your staff. You backed them up, all of them."
Quinn, who retired in September, unwrapped the plaque that was placed next to her photo. Known for her uncompromising attention to detail, she adjusted the slightly crooked plaque and then thanked her North Adams Campus family.
"This has meant everything to me. As you all know, I raised my child right within these walls," she said. "This is my family. These folks have embraced me. EMS has been a constant source of support, and my ED leadership team couldn't be better even though they are a campus away sometimes."
She said she leaves the soon-to-reopen hospital in good hands and is happy to help in the transition.
"It means so much to me to be able to hand it off … and it is part of my legacy," she said. "I want to be here to support you all."
She added that she is enjoying retirement.
"Retirement has been wonderful," she said. "My house has never been so clean, and my grandchild has never been so visited. It is wonderful."
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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