On Monday, Irene Martindell, a beloved and longtime member of the Hutchinson Regional family, marks her milestone 100th birthday. Barely 90,000 Americans, in a population of 328,000,000 can lay claim to being centenarians.
Tom Knight, an aging expert, says people live to see their 100th birthday because they have three things: someone to love, something to do, and a goal to live for. Irene has those and more.
Irene began volunteering for Hutchinson Regional Medical Center 52 years ago, in 1969. Irene, then a mother of four and spouse of Bob Martindell, a prominent Hutchinson attorney, felt a tug to volunteer whatever free time she had for St. Elizabeth Hospital in Hutchinson. Her first job was delivering mail and flowers to patients, a perfect fit for Irene’s vivacious personality.
In a 2019 interview, Irene said it was the best volunteer job in the hospital. “Many times, they even asked me if I would mind opening their letters,” Irene said. “If a family member was not present in the room at the time of delivery, they might even ask me to read the letters aloud to them.”
September 10, 1975 is a day Irene will always remember; it was her first day volunteering for what she still calls the “new hospital” or what is now called Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. This stint would remain weekly for the 43 years to follow until 2018.
When Irene decided to step down in 2018, the Hutchinson Regional Auxiliary wasted little time asking her to join the organizations’ board of directors. As Irene states, “If they ever need to know how it was done years ago, they can ask me and I will tell them what I remember.”
Other organizations in Hutchinson have benefited from her generous nature, including the Hutchinson Symphony and Emergency Shelter. In her spare time, which must not be much, Irene is often seen cruising Hutchinson in her Corvette convertible. Over the years, her family circle grew to include five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Her late husband Bob once joked that he might see more of her if she got a full-time job. “God blessed me with a great husband and four wonderful children,” Irene said.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of Hutchinson Regional Medical Center and Irene has served as a role model and mentor for hundreds who give their time in service to our patients. These volunteers do everything from operating the hospital’s gift shop to spending time with patients and families. After a half-century of service, Irene continues to touch the lives of the Hutchinson Regional family through her dedication and service. We very much appreciate her remarkable contributions and wish her a happy, healthy birthday.
Provided by Ken Johnson, President& CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System
