NCH: Part of the Morris Family Story

John Morris lived in Rolling Meadows since 1956, when residents had to travel to Evanston or Elgin to get hospital care. But a fundraising campaign was underway to change that. John and his wife, Lillian, made a pledge to help build Northwest Community Hospital. It opened in 1959 and became part of their story.

John worked in loss prevention for insurance brokers Marsh & McClennan and, later, Willis. While his corporate clients included giants AT&T and Woolworth Co., he also inspected many Chicago-area hospitals to ensure patient safety and prevent fires. Lillian went to work part-time at NCH as the outpatient cashier, and the couple raised two sons, Tim and Tom.

Some of Lillian's NCH co-workers became friends of the Morrises, and they often socialized with them. As John said, "It's like a little family there." Employment at the Hospital may have also helped "launch" their sons. Tim worked part-time as an NCH lab technician throughout his high school and college years. He's now a professor of philosophy with a strong interest in bioethics, and John thought his early healthcare experience played a key role in his development. A professional printer and a musician, son Tom also started out working at NCH-in the storeroom right after high school.

Over the years, the Morrises came to rely more on Northwest's healthcare services. John said, "We were only a few minutes away. If our family needed care, we could get there quickly." Now deceased, Lillian required ongoing medical attention throughout her final days, and John was particularly grateful that she was "treated so well." His own medical problems resulted in several inpatient stays, and, as a result, John was an enthusiastic fan of the nursing staff. "The nurses are terrific," he said.

As an NCH Foundation donor, John belonged to the President's Circle and the Living Legacy societies and enjoyed keeping abreast of new developments at special events. He was especially pleased to have found an easy way to leave a legacy gift. Rather than going through the process of changing his will, he simply designated the Hospital as a beneficiary of his IRA. Asked about his motivations, John said, "The Hospital has done so much to improve the health of our community. And Northwest Community is part of our family's story." John passed away in 2015.