Our Community, Our Hospital

Their Lives Together

It was their passion for politics that brought the late Mert and Shirley Fish together. Shirley, born on a farm in Minnesota, made her way to Chicago after graduating with a degree in finance from the business school at the University of Minnesota. Not a small feat, considering Shirley was one of only 17 women in a class of 700 men. That accomplishment was just the beginning of Shirley's trailblazing career that paved the way for other women to follow.

Mert was born and raised in Chicago and was serving his country in the military. Their paths first crossed at the 1960 Republican convention in Chicago where both were members of the Young Republican Party and each had responsibilities at the convention. Shirley and her girlfriend had been assigned the Palmer House Hotel to hand out magazines containing information about convention activities, while Mert's role was to deliver these magazines to the hotel. Shirley was ready at her post but the magazines had not been delivered. When a young man, Mert, came barreling into the hotel with an armful of magazines, he and Shirley exchanged a few rather heated words regarding their responsibilities and about "who" was tardy. As the story goes, Shirley had the last word, which put a smile on Mert's face, and the rest is history. Married for 54 years, Mert gladly confessed, "I definitely married up."

Armed with her finance degree, Shirley applied for a job at Harris Bank and was offered a clerical position. It wasn't the position she had hoped for, but it was a foot in the door. Along the way, Mert and Shirley moved around a bit eventually ending up in Park Ridge, and Shirley continued at Harris Bank in several different clerical roles. The bank had what they called a "wish book" where employees aspiring to hold different positions could share their career goals. Shirley shared hers, and after 16 years she was finally promoted to a Personal Trust Investment Portfolio Manager.

Mert continued his work in the military and after 12 years of active duty was stationed at the Army Reserve facility on Central Road in Arlington Heights. Mert remembered when the ground was broken. In response to an invitation from hospital, Mert and his co-workers often enjoyed lunch in the hospital's cafeteria.

Their Rewarding Retirement

Mert's military career spanned 12 years of active duty and 14 years in the Army Reserves. He retired as a Sergeant Major. He is a Vietnam Veteran; Shirley was a Vice President at Harris Bank. In retirement, Shirley has been very active in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) on both the local and state level for 25 years and also enjoyed playing golf at Arlington Lakes Golf Club. Mert registered voters for several years in Maine Township and later in Arlington Heights. Mert also and coordinated the election judges in Park Ridge and Arlington Heights. Together, they traveled the world and spent time taking road trips visiting national parks and hiking the trails; alternating years they would fly to sun and sand locations. "We were blessed to have been given such wonderful and fulfilling lives," said Mert and Shirley. In 2001, turned the page to a new chapter in their rewarding retirement when they relocated to the Moorings of Arlington Heights and made new friends. A welcome addition to the family came in 2011 with their shelter cat, Annie, who has both Mert and Shirley wrapped around her furry paws.

The move from Park Ridge to Arlington Heights also meant a new medical home—Northwest Community Hospital (NCH). Mert and Shirley began attending NCH Foundation and health education events and became members of the President's Circle, the Foundation's annual giving society. They always appreciated the value of having NCH right down the road even if at the time only for annual visits and minor healthcare needs. Both in fairly good health, they considered this a blessing.

It wasn't until in the spring of 2017 when Mert and Shirley found themselves in need of more serious medical care, facing what would turn out to be some critical healthcare challenges for both of them. They found themselves making regular visits to the hospital's Busse Center for doctor appointments, the hospital for outpatient treatments and for several overnight, inpatient stays. They were always grateful for the compassionate care they received from everyone they encountered at NCH.

Their Legacy, Their Gift

In late summer, likely after one of their visits to the hospital, Shirley and Mert reflected on the decisions they had made in their estate plans. Shirley referred to this as their "light bulb moment." They had drawn up estate plans some 30 years ago and had initially chosen to include a bequest to a national cancer organization. Several years later, while reviewing their estate plans, they thought that a national heart organization would be a more appropriate because most of their respective families had passed away from heart disease or stroke.

That "light bulb moment" came when they realized that while these are worthy organizations, Shirley and Mert now call Arlington Heights home. They wanted to make a difference in their community, for their friends, and to ensure that patients who come after them have the same experience of outstanding and compassionate care. They were grateful to have such a wonderful hospital, doctors and caregivers right in their own community and were pleased to play a part in its future.

Mert and Shirley designated their bequest to support the needs of Cancer Services at NCH. Shirley remarked, "Every day there are new and exciting advances in cancer treatments, technology and care, but with those advancements come an expensive cost." Throughout their lives, Mert and Shirley have shown compassion for others—Mert's service to our country and Shirley's paving the way for women to succeed in finance and business. Looking back, Shirley said with confidence, "I have no regrets."

Mert and Shirley Fish are just two of the many generous and caring people who belong to Northwest Community Hospital's family of Living Legacy members who have included NCH in their estate plans or are making another type of planned gift. They remind us that leaving a legacy is not about our accomplishments but about the ways in which we touch others.