When Muskegon businessman and county commissioner Bob Scolnik took his seat on the Hackley Visiting Nurse Services Board of Directors in 1996, HVNS was considering the addition of in-home hospice care to its roster of home health services. Scolnik thought it was a logical step for the century-old agency, and lobbied for it. “It made sense from a strategic perspective,” he said.
But Scolnik was in favor of the move for personal reasons, too. In December 1994, his mother passed away in the Scolniks’ Muskegon home, and that passage was made bearable by hospice care. “It made all the difference in the world,” Scolnik remembered. Not only did he appreciate the professional care and pain management that his mother received, but he and his family also benefited from the counseling and assistance during a difficult time in their lives.
Now, 10 years later, Scolnik is the Chairman of Hackley Visiting Nurse Services and Hospice, Inc.; and he and his wife of 34 years, Merle, have demonstrated their commitment to hospice care with a significant contribution to the agency’s new Hospice House. In appreciation and recognition of the Scolniks’ generous gift, HNS & Hospice has named its new residential care facility “The Bob & Merle Scolnik Hospice House.”
Scolnik’s service on the HVNS and Hospice, Inc. Board of Directors is part of a long tradition of community endeavors. He also serves on the Muskegon County Museum and Muskegon Civic Theater boards and is vice chair of the Hackley Cornerstone Foundation board. He was the first chairman of the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce, having helped it to evolve from its earlier incarnation as the Muskegon Economic Growth Alliance (MEGA). He is a past president of the Muskegon Rotary and of the Congregation B’nai Israel.
“In all my years in business, all I did was work,” Bob commented. “I never golfed or had a hobby. So, when the business grew to the point where I had managers and could free up some of my time, I turned my attention to helping the community I love wherever it needed me.”
Nancy McCarthy, HVNS and Hospice, Inc. President and CEO, said, “Bob has been a tremendous asset to our board and we are so thankful for his expertise and dedication. He is ‘Mr. Community Service’ personified.” |
