Meet Our Donors
John and Elaine Shubeck, as remembered by their daughter, Theresa Shubeck
A Memorial Legacy Gift Story – from the daughter of a visionary pair of planned gift donors to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (formerly Saint Barnabas Medical Center), Theresa Shubeck remembering her parents, John and Elaine
My parents, John & Elaine Shubeck, never boasted about their generosity, seeking always to praise others. In this spirit they decided to include St. Barnabas Medical Center in their will.
Their giving was active and discerning. Together they frequently discussed and reevaluated their choices of charities. Their gift support was personal. My mother, in particular, had a keen attentiveness and insight about the needs of those around her. She would match her intuition with research, thoughtfulness, and prayer.
In 2000, when my parents were already loyal and consistent donors to St. Barnabas, their support grew. They were especially touched by the moving accounts they read in the Star-Ledger of the Seton Hall dormitory fire and the exceptional treatment of the survivors at St. Barnabas's Burn Center. My parents responded to the "care behind the care," an amazing depth of compassion and commitment combined with the incredible expertise of the Burn Center's staff.
When they updated their will, as always, they approached their philanthropy with thought and sensitivity. St. Barnabas Medical Center as a possible choice already had a distinct advantage: their son, my brother, Chris Shubeck had been a patient representative since 1989. But the graceful stories of the lives of those at the Burn Center, both those who needed healing and those who bestowed it, lingered in their hearts and minds. They wanted to honor and encourage this beautiful dynamic and resolved to include St. Barnabas in their will.
I imagine that John & Elaine might not mind me telling their story in the hope that it could gently encourage others to make a gift through their own will. I also believe they would be grateful for that to be part of their legacy.