A final farewell was said Saturday to St. Luke’s Hospital, which was more than a building to the Maumee community.

The commemoration ceremony may have felt like a funeral for a facility, said Alison Avendt, president of Mercy Health — Perrysburg Hospital and former COO at McLaren St. Luke’s.

“But I really think of it more as a celebration of life, the celebration of the people who gave life to this building,” she said. “That is what St. Luke’s is all about. It was creating a place where people came to work, to learn, to give and receive care in a space that was warm and caring and safe and healing.”

The ceremony was held in the hospital auditorium, 5901 Monclova Rd., and almost every seat was filled. It was open to all former St. Luke’s and Mercy Health associates and the community. 

The beginnings of St. Luke’s started with Dr. William Gillette, who opened a hospital on Robinwood Avenue in Toledo, said Pastor Steve Bauerle, who was St. Luke’s chaplain for 40 years.

“He started it because of his concern with quality care,” Pastor Bauerle said. In 1951, the hospital was renamed St. Luke’s.

“St. Luke was a gospel writer in the Bible and was a physician,” he said. “In 1972 the hospital relocated to Maumee and continued with the name St. Luke’s and the Christian and care identity.”

Other speakers included Bill Carroll, past chairman of the board; Dr. Stephen Bazeley, past medical officer; and Diane Wollam, nursing leader.

Former medical staff, board members, and volunteers were recognized.

“The spirit of Luke’s culture lives on in your heart and soul,” Dr. Bazeley said.

After the program, Boy Scout Troop 103 from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church led a ceremonial flag lowering as the crowd sang the national anthem outside. The audio of Dr. Tom Boggs’ emotional final call to Lucas County EMS from May 8, 2023, was played as Ms. Avendt accepted the flag.

In the auditorium, old photos and newsletters stretched the length of several tables. More pictures, of smiling nurses and the skeleton of the building as it was constructed in the early 1970s, flashed on a slideshow.

Dr. Donna Woodson did two turns as chief of staff and worked 40 years at the hospital.

“St. Luke’s is part of my heart,” she said. “It’s the best hospital care that anyone could receive.”

Maumee Mayor Jim MacDonald said he has many memories of visiting the emergency room, as a police officer, and later police chief. He also fondly recalled helping the hospital auxiliary raise money by participating in a fashion show.

“St. Luke’s was just a great institution in Maumee for many, many, many years,” he said. “This is just awesome that they’re able to come out and honor the people that made it all happen.”

The hospital site is an attractive property, Mayor MacDonald said, that could be used for retail, housing, or a mixed use.

“They’re saying that the building’s probably not worth keeping,” he said. “We’ll work with Mercy in however they see fit in moving forward.”

Brian and Jane Tomko, who live a mile away from St. Luke’s, are watching with keen interest what Mercy will do with the site.

“We want to see if there is any insight into some of the ideas that Mercy has,” Mrs. Tomko said. “We don’t want it to be razed.”

“But, obviously, we don’t want a vacant building out here,” added Mr. Tomko, who has worked for Mercy for 30 years.

Judy Thompson of Waterville was employed at St. Luke’s for 20 years as an executive assistant.

“It was a special place. There will never be anything like it,” she said, citing the family atmosphere.

The building could be used as a Veterans Affairs clinic or children’s hospital, Ms. Thompson said.

“I’d hate to see them tear it down,” she said. “Just do something with it instead of ripping it down.”

Becky Duvall grew up near the hospital and worked there for 14 years in the early 1980s in critical care.

“I just learned everything here that I’ve carried through the rest of my career,” said Ms. Duvall, who now works in oncology for the University of Toledo Medical Center.

Ms. Avendt said some St. Luke’s records are going to the genealogy room at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library and to the Maumee Valley Historical Society. An artist’s rendering of St. Luke’s will hang at the Perrysburg hospital as a tribute.

The future of the hospital building and 65 acres may be determined in a few months. Mercy Health acquired the campus assets in June, 2023, after McLaren Health Care decided to close St. Luke’s and related outpatient services.

Mercy in June announced the hospital buildings would likely be demolished.

A hospital statement earlier this week said that, since purchasing St. Luke’s, Mercy Health has conducted due diligence on the viability of the structures and possible future uses of the campus. Currently, Mercy Health is seeking proposals from qualified developers to implement the next phase in the campus redevelopment.

Mercy Health has begun to identify potential developers with an expert in this redevelopment arena to move forward with a signature project that honors St. Luke’s legacy, with the goal of an announcement later this year.

Mercy continues to offer access to health care services on the St. Luke’s campus in several medical office buildings, including cardiac rehab and physical therapy, lab and radiology services, and ambulatory surgery, as well as primary care practices and physician specialties.

First Published September 28, 2024, 10:55 p.m.