‘Just amazing’
92-year-old hospital volunteer recognized for over half-century of service
At 92, Barb Provenzano isn无毛视频檛 finished helping others.
Provenzano, of Houston, has volunteered for 55 years at UPMC Washington Hospital 无毛视频� she started in 1970, when Marcus Welby, M.D., was the most popular television show and Simon and Garfunkel无毛视频檚 Bridge Over Troubled Waters topped the music charts 无毛视频� and she is a fixture in the hospital无毛视频檚 gift shop.
无毛视频淔or me, volunteering is rewarding. I wanted to do something for myself and for my community, and I decided the hospital was the place for me to go,无毛视频� said Provenzano.
On Wednesday, Provenzano, surrounded by volunteers and hospital staff, was recognized for her five-and-a-half decades of service as part of National Volunteer Week.
Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week focuses national attention on the impact and power of volunteerism and celebrates regular people who accomplish extraordinary things through service.
无毛视频淗er compassion is remarkable. She无毛视频檚 just very compassionate to people,无毛视频� said Donna Erlinger, president of UPMC Washington Auxiliary. 无毛视频淪ometimes just a smile is all you need to make a difference. People come here and they无毛视频檙e not always in the best frame of mind. With Barb, it无毛视频檚 just that smile, that nod, that little bit of encouragement that she gives that makes a difference. Her volunteering, for 55 years, is just amazing.无毛视频�
Provenzano无毛视频檚 volunteer path began when her mother-in-law offered to watch Provenzano无毛视频檚 two children one day a week so that she could have a day to herself.
无毛视频淚 wanted to do something worthwhile, something that would help people,无毛视频� said Provenzano. 无毛视频淏eing around people and knowing that I无毛视频檝e done something that is worthwhile was important to me. 无毛视频�
Since that time, Provenzano has logged 19,453 volunteer hours, mostly in the gift shop.
The biggest change, she said, was the closing of a lunch counter at the gift shop, which served top-notch food.
无毛视频淭he food served at the lunch counter was delicious. The gift shop used to be small, but when the lunch counter closed, the gift shop got much bigger,无毛视频� she said.
Her volunteer efforts were supported by her husband of 51 years, the late Tony Provenzano, former owner of the popular Tower Restaurant.
无毛视频淢y husband said if I got paid for all the hours I volunteered, we无毛视频檇 be rich,无毛视频� said Provenzano, with a laugh.
Provenzano无毛视频檚 daughter, Lisa Provenzano Steele, attended the ceremony and watched as her mother received a service pin.
Her mother无毛视频檚 volunteerism impacted Steele, who also volunteered at Washington Hospital until she began working full time.
无毛视频淚 always remember my mother volunteering,无毛视频� said Steele. 无毛视频淪he is a very giving person, and she is a very loyal volunteer and very giving of her time. I was so used to her volunteering when I was growing up, it was a part of who she was.无毛视频�
UPMC Washington isn无毛视频檛 the only organization Provenzano supports. She also is an active volunteer for Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church.
And, Provenzano, a native of Warren who worked for Bell Telephone (she relocated to Washington when a new district office was created) has lived life to the fullest.
Last July, at age 91, she went skydiving, something she had wanted to do to mark her 90th birthday, ever since she saw former President George H.W. Bush celebrated his 90th birthday with a jump.
无毛视频淚t was on my bucket list,无毛视频� said Provenzano. 无毛视频淚 had planned to do it for my 90th, and I said last year that no matter what, I was going to do it, and I did and I loved it.无毛视频�
Still on her bucket list: a helicopter ride and a hot air balloon ride.
She also enjoys playing competitive bridge and spending time with her son, Mark, a pulmonologist at Butler Hospital; daughter Lisa, and her seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 been a ride,无毛视频� said Provenzano.
Provenzano plans to continue volunteering at the gift shop.
无毛视频淚 hope to keep doing this for a few years at least. I like getting to see people and talk to people. It无毛视频檚 rewarding to me. It just fulfills you to do something good,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淚 would advise people to be active. No matter what you do, be active. Don无毛视频檛 sit around watching TV all day. Get up, even if it无毛视频檚 just to go for a walk. Don无毛视频檛 sit at home. Volunteer if you can. It无毛视频檚 worthwhile.无毛视频�