Dignity Health St. Mary Hospital in Long Beach sees hundreds of volunteers every week, assisting around the hospital with various projects and outreach programs. But one special volunteer has been volunteering there for 38 years, and every morning, he makes sure staff and residents start off on a good note.
Gene Rogers, 76, started losing his vision 40 years ago, but that hasn’t stopped him from playing piano in the main hospital lobby every weekday since 1981. When he first began noticing his vision impairment, Rogers came to St. Mary’s Low Vision Center. The staff there helped him adjust to the legally blind life, and gave him a great reason to keep going — giving back to that same community. He takes the bus to the hospital to perform in the lobby, and the staff at St. Mary’s is grateful that Rogers has chosen to share his gifts.
Start your day with Always Forward, our award-winning e-newsletter. Get this smart, handpicked selection of the day’s top news, analysis, and opinion, delivered to your inbox. Sign up absolutely free today!
