Remembering Our Past

The Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation Recognition Societies recognize those who invest in the hospital through their gifts. These giving societies were created to honor those who helped make Sunnyview the fine rehabilitation hospital it is today.

Alfred R. Warner, MD, Kiwanis leader and Schenectady Fire Chief Henry Yates conceived the idea for the Home for Crippled Children and began community fundraising work to build what is now known as Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital.

First Superintendent Anastasia McConnell, RN, was a Red Cross nurse in WWI in Vischey, France. After returning to the USA, she and an associate phycisian opened an obstetrics hospital in Charleston, SC. She was operating nurse supervisor at Ellis Hospital when Dr. Warner enticed her to come to Sunnyview as chief administrator, a role she held for Sunnyview's first 27 years and when she retired in 1955, had attained the first accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation for Hospitals for Sunnyview.

William Gazeley, MD, founder of the department for orthopedic surgery served as Chief of Medical Staff from Sunnyview's opening until his death in the early 1970's.

Robert S. Hoffman, MD, founder of the departments of Rehabilitation Medicine and Rheumatology in 1957 and until his death in 1988 played a vital role in Sunnyview's programs and services. In his later years, he also served as Regional Medical Education Director and organized medical conferences of national repute.

Prior to his death in 1988, Dr. Robert S. Hoffman, founder of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Rheumatology at Sunnyview had planned the first public lecture. Dr. Hoffman's vision was to encourage both professional and community-based dialogue on important geriatric issues and to promote the development of programs to address such issues. The annual Robert S. Hoffman, MD lecture educates the community in many aspects of rehabilitation medicine each fall.

In 1926, a two-year lease on the Duryee house was signed to become the Schenectady Reconstruction Home for Crippled Children with Dr. Warner as president. On December 12, 1926, the house burned. In 1927, a drive launched by the Schenectady Firemen raised $50,000 to build a permanent facility for Sunnyview. Cornerstone was laid on December 10, 1927. On August 8, 1928, the first patients were admitted to the 10-bed facility on our present site and the name was changed to the Eastern New York Orthopaedic Hospital-School, Inc.

In 1937, the Anna Electa Collins Memorial addition opened, increasing the number of beds to 35. Anna's bequest in 1922 enabled the Hospital to expand to provide for the care and education of our children polio patients.

In 1929, the generosity of Ellis Rowe made possible the expansion of the Schenectady Home for Crippled Children into the Eastern New York Orthopedic Hospital - School now known as Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital.