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Kent Hospital Volunteer Recognized for Service

[CREDIT: Kent Hospital] From left, Retired Foster, RI Police Chief John Murray and Al Stanford, volunteer at Kent Hospital's infusion center, where he comforted Murray and his wife. The couple surprised Stanford July 14, 2023.

[CREDIT: Kent Hospital] From left, Retired Foster, RI Police Chief John Murray and Al Stanford, volunteer at Kent Hospital's infusion center, where he comforted Murray and his wife. The couple surprised Stanford July 14, 2023.
[CREDIT: Kent Hospital] From left, Retired Foster, RI Police Chief John Murray and Al Stanford, volunteer at Kent Hospital’s infusion center, where he comforted Murray and his wife. The couple surprised Stanford July 14, 2023.
[CREDIT: Kent Hospital] Retired Foster, RI Police Chief John Murray and his wife, Elaine surprised Kent Hospital volunteer Al Stanford July 14, 2023 with a gift and a cake.
[CREDIT: Kent Hospital]
Retired Foster, RI Police Chief John Murray and his wife, Elaine surprised Kent Hospital volunteer Al Stanford July 14, 2023 with a gift and a cake.
WARWICK, RI — Al Stanford, 94, Kent Hospital volunteer at the Women & Infants infusion center for years comforting patients with his humor and talks, was surprised by one couple who showed their appreciation of his compassion with a gift and cake July 14 during his shift.

Women & Infants Infusion Center at Kent is an outpatient facility on the Kent Hospital campus where patients receive IV treatments, staffed with nurses who specialize in oncology and IV procedures. The center has comfortable patient areas with reclining lounge chairs, individual cable TV, and music stations. It also has Stanford, providing comfort and conversation to patients along with a few laughs at his “famous” jokes, according to Kent Hospital’s announcement about the surprise recognition of his efforts.

Retired Foster, RI Police Chief John Murray met Al while accompanying his wife, Elaine, to her chemo treatments every week. They quickly formed a friendship and Al became a supportive figure for the couple. Murray was so appreciative of Al that he wrote a letter of gratitude to Kent Hospital.  He told Stanford’s hospital colleagues that he wanted to recognize him in a meaningful way.

That Friday, with Kent Hospital staff’s assistance, the Murrays and Stanford’s family surprised him during his shift at the center. Chief Murray pinned Stanford’s hospital lanyard with a star that he wore on his police uniform collar as chief.

[CREDIT: Kent Hospital] At left, John and Elaine Murray, who surprised Al Stanford, volunteer at Kent Hospital, center, with the help of his wife, family and hosptial staff July 14, 2023.
[CREDIT: Kent Hospital] At left, John and Elaine Murray, who surprised Al Stanford, volunteer at Kent Hospital, center, with the help of his wife, family and hosptial staff July 14, 2023. From left, Elaine Murray and her husband Former Foster, RI Police Chief John Murray; Al’s daughter, Christine Tartaglia, and her husband Bill Tartaglia; Al Stanford and his wife Leona Stanford; and Al’s granddaughter Dawn Pallante and her husband Marc.
Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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