Supporting Valley Then and Now

Vincent and Barbara Lewis’ philanthropy supports The Valley Hospital in Paramus

For Barbara and Vincent Lewis, Valley has always been a part of their family’s story.

“I always say that Valley is in my DNA,” Barbara jokes.

Growing up in Ho-Ho-Kus, Barbara’s mother fundraised in the late 1940’s for the new hospital planned in Ridgewood by participating in bake sales, monthly coffee klatches, and visiting train stops to collect donations to support The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood.

Once the Ridgewood hospital opened, Barbara and her sisters served as Nightingales, similar to Candy Stripers, and Barbara was presented at Valley’s Cotillion in 1963 with the most special escort – her now husband of more than 55 years, Vin.

She was later active in the Valley Hospital Auxiliary, serving as President from 1998 to 2000, was a member of The Valley Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees and is a member of Valley’s Women For Health. 

Vin, who is retired after more than 50 years on Wall Street, also served as a Trustee of The Valley Hospital Foundation, where he lent his expertise in finance and investment to support the hospital’s efforts.

The Lewises, Lifetime Benefactors at the Gold level, recently made a $1 million gift in support of The Valley Hospital. A section – or “pod” – of the emergency department in Paramus will be named in honor of their generosity.

“Recently, we had the opportunity to tour the new hospital and were so impressed with what we saw in the new facility. We learned that all employees were involved in the design process and were asked what they needed in order to provide the best care, not only for today, but long into the future. As patients, that meant a lot to us.”

Both Barbara and Vin have relied on Valley for their own medical care, and are thankful for doctors like Dr. Suneet Mittal, Dr. Rajiv Tayal, Dr. Roger Pollock, and Dr. Victor Hartanto, who have gone “above and beyond” to take care of them over the years.

“We have always received great care and we’re appreciative of the professionalism and expertise of our doctors,” Vin said. “Receiving care from the best of the best without having to go over the bridge is an important thing, and we’re proud to help support that for our community.”