GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems has dedicated the renovated Fairview Hospital Laboratory to Eugene Dellea, the longtime former president of Fairview and the former Hillcrest Hospital, and a senior leader at BHS for decades. 

 

The Gene Dellea Laboratory at Fairview Hospital is designed to honor Dellea's extraordinary legacy of service to healthcare in Berkshire County,

 

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Monday, June 29, at Fairview, bringing together nearly 50 guests, including Dellea's family and friends, local elected officials including state Rep. Leigh Davis, BHS trustees and staff, and Fairview employees. 

 

Welcomed by BHS President & CEO Darlene Rodowicz, a series of speakers reflected on his decades of dedication to healthcare in the Berkshires, his leadership at Hillcrest and Fairview, and his lasting impact on patients, colleagues, and the community. Speakers included Dr. Alec Belman, Fairview chief of staff; Tony Scibelli, BHS vice president and Fairview chief operating officer; and Select Board Chair Stephen Bannon, also a Fairview pharmacist.

 

Bannon presented Dellea with a special citation recognizing his lifelong commitment to the health and wellness of Berkshire County residents. Dellea himself shared heartfelt stories from his early years managing the lab at Hillcrest Hospital and his many years serving Fairview.

 

The celebration also recognized the generous anonymous donors whose $1 million gift made it possible for Fairview Hospital to renovate and move the clinical laboratory. The upgraded space supports improved infrastructure, new diagnostic technology and equipment, and a more convenient location for patients and staff. 

 

"This meaningful investment honors Gene's remarkable legacy while strengthening the care Fairview provides to the nearly 30,000 people who rely on its laboratory services each year," said Rodowicz.

 

The hospital is undergoing a $70 million renovation that includes a two-story 44,000-square-foot addition that will hold an expanded Emergency Department, magnetic resonance imaging system and second-floor surgical suite. It also is installing a geothermal system for heating and cooling. The hospital is open through the construction, expected to be completed in 2028.