Corporate Partner Profile - Wally Findlay Galleries

James R. Borynack

With galleries in New York, Barcelona and Palm Beach, James R. Borynack is renowned throughout the art world as the Chairman and CEO of the distinguished Wally Findlay Galleries International. Along with his lifelong interest in fine art, Jimmy developed another passion as a young man after a life-changing experience.

In the mid-1970s, Jimmy’s mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness. She was such a vibrant and active woman leading up to the diagnosis that her seven adult children and her husband struggled to comprehend what was happening. Finally, hospice was called in. “They met with us and took the time to educate us on the end of life,” Jimmy explained. “It was an amazing experience to transition from confusion to acceptance, focusing on our time together. Everything became so much easier for all of us.”

To help others receive this invaluable support, Jimmy has dedicated himself to raising awareness of the benefits of hospice care. At the national level, he became chairman of the board of the National Hospice Foundation and chaired their National Board of Governors. Locally, Wally Findlay Galleries Palm Beach has been raising funds to support Hospice of Palm Beach County since 1997. “We continue to support Hospice of Palm Beach County each year because it is a necessity that touches everyone,” Jimmy added.

In addition to their Corporate Partnership, the Palm Beach gallery generously hosts the Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation Chairman’s Reception each year. Announcing a new fund-raising event, Jimmy shared, “We are excited to be hosting Masque Celebrity Art at the gallery on March 9th, 2013. It will be an evening of fun as we auction off masks decorated by Celebrities, Philanthropists and Captains of Industry.” Jimmy added, “We do whatever we can to support Hospice of Palm Beach County as they care for all of us.
They’re our saving grace at the end of life.”

To learn more about Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation’s Corporate Partnership Program and other corporate giving programs that support Hospice of Palm Beach County, please contact Carrie Browne at 561.494.6882. For information on upcoming Foundation events, please contact Lauryn Barry at 561.494.6884.

What Being a Hospice Nurse means To Me

As a nurse I have worked in critical care, mental health, long term, medical surgery, school nursing and case management, but none has been as rewarding as my current position with Hospice of Palm Beach County. As a Hospice nurse, I am charged with caring for patients at their end-of-life. I am able to watch the peaceful process of dying and able to console a grieving family.

To me, there are two important events in a person’s life, their birth and their death. As a rule when we are born there is someone other than our mother to bear witness and support our grand entrance into this world. On the other hand, many people might not have any significant others to bear witness to the second most important event in their life, their death.

Consequently I cannot think of a more important reason to be a Hospice nurse, than having the privilege of bearing witness to the peaceful dying process of a fellow human being and their grieving family. No other person does what a Hospice nurse does for the dying patient. And always, my feelings are the same, the mixed feeling of gratitude and awe to bear witness to the second most important event in a person’s life.

~ Lester Bavegehims is the Continuous Care Manager, Hospice of Palm Beach County

Cheri Haynie – CNA, Caring for every family member

While working with a patient, Cheri learned that the man didn’t have any family except for his dog. The dog meant the world to the man, but he was disabled and couldn’t care properly for it. Cheri drove on her own time to the only store in the area that carried the specific dog food that the man used. She would purchase the food, bring it back to the house, place it in the container where the man kept it and feed the dog. Cheri made certain that the dog was well cared for. This eased the man’s mind so he wouldn’t worry about the most important part of his life and his only family – his dog.

A Man with No Name Remembered - a Humble Eulogy for our Friend Pedro

"As a hospice chaplain I have a sacred trust placed upon me. By connecting a patient to their faith community, listening to their spiritual needs and responding according to their faith tradition, a chaplain can foster comfort and especially, help dispel fear."
~ Joe McNett


by Joe McNett, Hospice of Palm Beach County Chaplain

Those who work on the clinical side of hospice come into contact with hundreds of patients each year, not to mention their family members. Whereas all our patients receive our best care, there are certain ones we seem to grow attached to a little more than the others. It may be they remind us of someone we knew or quite possible it's our compassion for their extremely difficult circumstances. Pedro was one of those patients.

As best we can tell, he emigrated from Puerto Rico and worked with a landscaping company for years. Although he was a hard worker, his physical condition began taking its toll.

Pedro came to us from a rundown trailer he was renting by himself and immediately began winning our hearts. He had a tracheotomy which prevented most verbal communication. However, Pedro would communicate with hand gestures and facial expressions that would put a veteran charades player to shame. Despite his slow decline and physical difficulties, Pedro was constantly roaming the halls and taking walks outside, which brought him into contact with almost all of the inpatient staff over the months. The one thing we could always count on was a smile or salute from him. Even when he was hurting, he still shared that smile.

As our social workers began working on his case, they were especially vexed as to his real name and identity. They found that he had assumed another name in order to survive in the states and had paid his taxes under it for over a decade. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts we were never really able to find out who he was. Pedro's memory was ravaged and he could only recall random bits and pieces. Even the name he said was his own had no corroborating evidence. Additionally, there were no family or friends to care for him, visit, or even claim him when he died.

That is the main reason for my writing this account. Pedro had no one. He spent months in our inpatient unit and we ended up feeling like his family. We cared for him and loved him. Pedro passed away just before midnight on a Tuesday evening. Although there was no one to claim him then... we do now.

This letter is a humble eulogy, not as much for his accomplishments, but more about who he was and what he meant to us. Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation has graciously donated a memorial brick in memory of Pedro. Many of the staff will be contributing money towards it, despite the gift, and will be gathering for a memorial service in memory of Pedro. Furthermore, all the inpatient staff will be signing their names on the bottom and sides to symbolize the care and support for our friend. The brick will be placed outside on the sidewalk that he traveled so much, enjoying the outdoors while he was with us.

So this letter and the memorial brick are a lasting remembrance for our friend, Pedro. He will always be in our hearts. Moreover, he is an example of so many other patients who need someone to care for them at the end of life.