Education Pavilion Dedication

Hospital's Education Pavilion
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named after donors Stan and Ellen Weisser

REDLANDS, CA - Shortly after Redlands Community Hospital completed its 100 year anniversary in 2004 and reflected on its history of community support and philanthropy, it began its second century with the same tradition and spirit of giving. In spring 2005, the hospital dedicated its newest building, an education center and office building, and recognized the major donors after whom the building was named: Stan and Ellen Weisser Education Pavilion.

Ellen and Stan Weisser at dedication of Weisser Education Pavilion.

The Weisser Education Pavilion is located in the northwest corner of the hospital campus, overlooking San Timoteo Canyon. The new $7 million, 21,000 sq. ft. facility includes a large education center with high vaulted ceilings, a three-story office building, and a spacious glass-walled lobby connecting the two. A new $1.7 million parking lot was also constructed, adding 150 new parking stalls.

The education center has one large meeting room which can be divided into four smaller meeting rooms. Each room has its own state-of-the-art audio visual equipment with automated screens and projectors for DVD, Power Point, and other types of AV equipment. The office building houses a variety of hospital departments, including education, managed care, and patient accounting.

The building architecture is an ultra-modern style with decor in colors of eggplant, ocher and brushed silver. Contemporary styling with high ceilings, glass walls, curved architecture and sleek furniture in coordinated colors give the Pavilion a modern new look on the hospital campus.

The Weisser Education Pavilion is part of the hospital’s 25-year master plan adopted in 2000. As the hospital prepared to start building a three-story surgery center and maternal/child center in summer 2005, an area that previously housed the education department and conference center needed to be demolished. Thus, the departments were relocated to the new Pavilion.

“Naming the education pavilion after the Weissers is not only an acknowledgement of their gracious donation, but also a recognition of their many volunteer hours of service and leadership at the hospital,” stated hospital President Jim Holmes. “The Weissers now join the list of other noted people after whom buildings were named, including the Moseley Wing, MacDonald Wing, M.W. Hill Wing, Eytinge Wing, Miller Building, the Cope family donation of 17 acres upon which we stand today, and others. The hospital and the community are proud to have the Weissers continue the spirit of philanthropy which started in Redlands back in the 1800s with the Smiley brothers.”

Stan and Ellen Weisser of Redlands wanted to give back to the community to show their appreciation for the good life they have enjoyed and successful business they built through the years in Redlands and neighboring communities. The Weissers owned several pharmacies in the area, beginning with their first pharmacy, Cajon Pharmacy in Redlands, where Stan was the pharmacist. During their 35 years in the pharmaceutical business, they purchased 13 pharmacies and later named their business Network Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The Weissers have been involved with the hospital for more than a quarter of a century. “Our oldest son Seth was born here in 1981,” stated Stan Weisser. “It was December and the volunteers gave us a hand-made red stocking in which to place our baby and take him home. We still have that red stocking. When my father from Connecticut became seriously ill, we brought him here, where he received excellent care until his death. From our son’s first breath to my father’s last breath, the hospital continues to be in our hearts.” The Weissers have another son, Peter, who is currently attending the University of Redlands.

Stan Weisser joined the hospital board of directors in 1983 and has served on the board for 22 years, including the present board. He has been chairman of every committee and served as board president from 1991-1994, and 1998-1999. Weisser was involved with the hospital’s building campaign when the hospital constructed the present five-story triangular-shaped tower, which was completed in 1985. He has seen numerous additions and remodels at the hospital during his board tenure and is actively involved today in the hospital’s building campaign to construct the new $65 million three-story surgery center and maternal/child center. Construction will take two years to complete.

Both Stan and Ellen Weisser have given enormous hours of volunteer service through a long list of community organizations, and in 2001 were recognized as Distinguished Citizens of the Year by the Boy Scouts.

“The time has come for Ellen and me to assume a new leadership role here at Redlands Community Hospital,” concluded Weisser. “The hospital has been giving the members of our community care, comfort, compassion and love for 100 years. We wanted to remind our community that Redlands Community Hospital needs our philanthropy. The cost of care, not just human care, not just the bricks and mortar, but the technology, the devices, the diagnostic aides, and the surgical theatres are astronomical. All this, while reimbursement for care gets squeezed down. Our hospital needs community support and our community needs this hospital.”

The hospital uses the Weisser Education Pavilion for nursing and staff education on a daily basis, and for health awareness programs for the public throughout the year.

NEWS RELEASE

By Jane Dreher, Redlands Community Hospital