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During this week’s segment, host Patty Spitler is joined by News 8’s Stacy Schooler and Dr. Lisa Harris from Eskenazi health, to honor and remember the philanthropists behind a $40 million gift to Eskenazi Health, Lois and Sidney Eskenazi.

They are being honored for their contributions to public health care following their recent passings. Sidney was 95 years old at the time of his death and Lois was 92.

The donation marked the largest gift ever given to a public health facility at the time it was made. Dr. Harris says the couple’s generosity was fueled by Sidney’s childhood experiences as a resident of the south side of Indianapolis, where the hospital served as his family’s primary source of medical care.

Harris recalled the first time she and Ernie Vargo, president and chief executive officer of the Eskenazi Health Foundation, met with the couple and their daughter, Sandy. Harris described a four-hour conversation dominated by Sid’s stories of hard work, humility and compassion while Lois interjected with warmth and wit.

“The love that they shared was palpable,” Harris said. “Everything we would get to know about them was there in that first conversation.”

Lois was described as a woman who valued individual dignity and made everyone feel important. Harris said the couple lived below their means and Lois had no interest in expensive items.

“As Sid began to do well, he wanted to buy Lois nice things and she had no interest in that,” Harris said. “She wanted to keep it simple.”

When the gift was first announced, the family met with hundreds of hospital staff members who wanted to express their gratitude. Harris remembered Lois wearing a white jacket that day that became covered with makeup from the many employees who hugged her. Harris noted that the family treated the hospital staff as part of their own family.

Dr. Harris said the hospital will maintain the standards set by the couple.

“The way we honor their legacy is that we continue to work hard and we continue to care,” Harris said. “We continue to work hard and care and that is what they would want.”