Childhood Memories Inspire a Tribute Bequest

Memories created by a child’s experience can be powerful. They can shape our values, views, and our choices into adulthood. James (Jim) Lagoulis, who was born at AJH, raised in Newburyport, and enjoyed a 50-plus-year career as an attorney here, can attest to the pull of a memory that influenced his decision to make an extraordinary planned gift to our hospital through his estate plan.

As a young child in the 1940s, Jim became ill and bedridden with a high fever. His mother, Jennie, called Dr. Howard Rogers, a family physician, and asked that the doctor make a house call as soon as possible. Dr. Rogers said to expect him after he had seen his patients and performed his rounds at the hospital.

At some time around 7 o’clock in the evening on that pitch-dark, bitterly cold winter night, Dr. Rogers appeared with his black bag, examined Jim, and treated him with medication. Jennie, who came here from Greece at the age of 12 with a fourth-grade education and who worked in the shoe factories, did not have the money to pay him. Dr. Rogers said that was all right, she could pay him when she could. It took her two weeks to gather the five dollars he charged for the visit.

Jim never forgot that episode, and his memory of the doctor’s dedication and professionalism impressed him, then and now. “I think that a community hospital is one of the most valuable assets a community can have. It’s also one of the few assets in a community that provides service to all.”

Jim recently made known his intention to leave AJH a substantial gift in his will to honor his mother. “I feel very fortunate to be in a position where I can help support the hospital, and I would encourage others to provide whatever support they are able to—large or small.”