Gratitude & Appreciation: Mural Dedicated At Greenwich Hospital

GREENWICH, CT — For nearly two years, Greenwich Hospital has worked tirelessly to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday afternoon, the hospital staff was able to see just what they've meant to the community.

A large mural, sponsored by Greenwich's C. Parker Gallery and created by Florida artist Rick Garcia, was dedicated during an event in the Bennett Community Garden. It was originally unveiled during last November's Reindeer Festival at Sam Bridge Nursery and Greenhouses on North Street.

Garcia said at the time of the unveiling that he completed the mural over two days, and had several designs before he finally decided on the finished product.

The digitally created piece features splashes of color, a child playing with a nurse superhero action figure, a stethoscope in the shape of a heart, a nurse's face, a butterfly and the word "Love."

"I've had nurses in my life, and I do have some health care workers in my family," Garcia said in November. "It's quite special."

Throughout the festival leading up to Christmas, hundreds of residents signed the mural with messages of thanks and gratitude for health care workers for all the work they've done to keep people safe.

The mural will now hang proudly outside of the hospital in the Bennett Community Garden.

"I've been in health care for 40 years. I've never seen such an extraordinary, caring and connected community than over these past two years," Greenwich Hospital President Diane Kelly said Monday afternoon.

Kelly noted that the hospital and Yale New Haven Health System are honoring employees with a week of gratitude and appreciation this week, so the timing of the mural dedication was perfect. About 1,900 people work at Greenwich Hospital.

"I'm in awe of each of you. When most people were able to seclude and shelter in place, you ran not away from the fire, our health care heroes ran into the fire," Kelly told staff on Monday as she reflected back on the pandemic. "Could we assure them they could be safe? No. Could we assure them they were going to have everything they needed at the moment they needed it? No, we couldn't. They didn't ask for the assurance."

Principal at C. Parker Gallery, Tiffany Benincasa, said she's grateful for the staff at Greenwich Hospital for their professionalism, care and compassion.

"You are a continuation not only of our community, but also of our family," she said. "You're our heroes everyday."

First Selectman Fred Camillo praised the hospital for their continued partnership in the fight against the pandemic. Camillo and Kelly gave daily, then weekly briefings to keep the community informed of the latest COVID-19 data in town. The town decided last week to end the briefings since numbers continue to improve.

"Greenwich Hospital has been instrumental in helping us get the word out and calming people and easing people's anxiety," Camillo said. "It's been great to have them as a partner."

Erika Tubridy, a nurse manager at the hospital, said it was emotional to see the mural and such an outpouring of love and support from the community.

"There's been a lot of challenges, but there's been a lot of great things that have come out of it," she said. "I'm a resident here in Greenwich, I raised my son here. The support we've had from the community from day one has been incredibly inspiring, not just to me, but to everyone here at Greenwich Hospital."

Tubridy said the last two years have been a test of great teamwork and collaboration between all employees at the hospital. She said there's some light at the end of the tunnel now, as there were zero COVID-19 patients being treated at Greenwich Hospital as of Monday afternoon.

"We celebrate every time our unit has zero COVID patients. Some days we reflect back on really tough days, and there are certain patients we'll always carry with us in our hearts. But the feeling is good right now," she said.

Tubridy thanked the community for doing its part to fight COVID-19.

"We're really grateful that the community, when they had the opportunity to get vaccinated, they took advantage of it," she said. "That's the best way they can say ‘thank you’ to us."