While many individuals her age embrace a quiet and leisurely retirement, 80-year-old Gertrude “Gertie” Erickson is still going strong as a dedicated volunteer at Norwood Hospital. In a large medical facility employing hundreds of professional staff, Erickson has blossomed into an institution in her own right. Widely known across the campus as the “whistling cashier,” Erickson has spent over 13 years working in the hospital’s coffee shop, transforming a routine spot to grab a sandwich into a warm, welcoming community hub.
“She’s kind of an institution herself,” remarked Kate Hartig, director of volunteer services at Norwood Hospital. “Gertie’s very, very loved by the staff and the volunteers. She’s just a terrific woman… Not much keeps Gertie down.” As spry as she is musical, Erickson considers the hospital community her second family. “The people in the hospital—that’s my biggest family,” Erickson said. “Talking with the people is my favorite part of the job.” Even a history of health challenges, including surviving three heart attacks, has done little to dampen her spirits or halt her service; she continues to maintain her Friday afternoon shift, cutting back her hours only slightly.
Erickson first arrived at Norwood Hospital decades earlier, motivated by profound gratitude for the compassionate medical care provided to her late husband, Albert Erickson, during his treatment there. “They were so wonderful to him,” recalled Erickson, who has resided in Norwood for roughly 30 years. “I decided I would help out in any way I could… There are other hospitals, but they can’t compare with ours.” Though she occasionally jokes about still feeling like a newcomer after three decades in town, her warm disposition and famous coffee shop crabmeat rolls have earned her an abundance of devoted friends among patients, doctors, and nurses alike. (Reporting by Everett A. Tatreau, The Patriot Ledger).
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More Norwood Hospital Stories
-
Hospital Addition Opens On Weekend-This Day in Norwood History-December 25, 1942
Christmas—and Norwood and surrounding communities will this year get about as fine a Christmas present as could be. It comes beautifully packaged, too. To be sure the wrappings are not white paper and red ribbon with a touch of gay holly. They are more. The wrappings are the most modern, up-to-date hospital unit one could…
-
Skidding Autos, Coasting Injury Keep Police Busy-This Day In Norwood History-December 14, 1942
LABOR SHORTAGE SLOWS SNOW CLEARANCE Norwood Police Aid Family Of Eleven Escape In Dedham Fire Sub-freezing weather accompanied winter’s first onslaught In Norwood that left four inches of snow and brought out a depleted war-lime crew of snow shovelers to clean the streets. There were accidents reported to the police and early this morning the…
-
New Blood Bank Located In Basement Of Norwood Hospital-This Day In Norwood History-December 10, 1942
“Best In The Country” For Towns Of Same Size In one of the most progressive medical steps made In the town in years, a blood bank was completed at the Norwood Hospital yesterday and is ready for service, matching anything in the country for a municipality of comparative size. The, bank came about as the…
-
Parade Marks Armistice Day-This Day In Norwood History-November 11, 1942
Veterans organizations Honor Dead Comrades Marching Units In Flag-Draped Streets Inspiring Spectacle Norwood, along with the rest of this warring nation, observed the 21th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that put an end to World War I, while many of the onlookers at the parade yesterday morning are warriors of World War II…
-
Norwood Man Gets Word of Newly-Arrived Son On Way To Pacific-This Day in Norwood History-October 7, 1942
Norwood Man Gets Word of Newly-Arrived Son On Way To Pacific-This Day in Norwood History-October 7, 1942
-
This Day in Norwood History-October 7, 1942-Norwood Man Gets Word of Newly-Arrived Son On Way To Pacific
Wed, Oct 7, 1942 – 8 · The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Somewhere down under an American soldier now fighting with a United States Expeditionary Force will be glad to see this picture: which was dispatched to him by the Boston Globe yesterday. He is private Elmer Matola. 24, of 46 Wilson st., Norwood, and…
-
New Emergency Ward Added To Hospital-This Day In Norwood History-September 25, 1942
New Emergency Ward Added To Hospital-This Day In Norwood History-September 25, 1942
-
Norwood Fireman John F. Lydon Dies at Controls of Ladder Truck-This Day In Norwood History-January 1, 1942
Fatally Stricken From Smoke Inhaled at Dwelling Blaze NORWOOD. Jan. 1—Stricken suddenly from smoke inhaled at a fire a short time previously. Ladderman John F. Lydon, 41, of 38 Press av., a member of the local fire department, died early today at the controls of a ladder truck as he was driving back to the…
-
Rev. Robert McAleer of Norwood Dies-This Day in Norwood History-October 25, 1940
Rev. Robert E. McAleer. 38, curate of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church for the last 12 years, died today at the Norwood Hospital. One of the most popular curates the church ever had, Fr. McAleer organized the St. Catherine’s Fife and Drum Corps which for the last two years has won the Cardinal O’Connell trophy as…
-
Local Woman Has Many Fine Colonial Antiques-This Day in Norwood History-October 16, 1940
Mrs. Daniel H. Philbrook of 145 Walpole st. has an imposing collection of antiques which date back hundreds of years. In a modest dwelling at 145 Walpole st. unknown to hundreds of local residents, is housed some of the finest Colonial antiques in New England. Thirty-five members of the Congregational church had the privilege of…
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.