A Valentine Story
The jouney to memorializing a half-century love story.
Hello Friend of TMC,
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I would like to share a beautiful love story. This story begins at the very end of a busy week for me in September 2022 at the TMC Health Foundation. With my normal greeting of, “Good afternoon, this is Bruce. How may I help you?” the caller’s voice on the other end immediately began to crack.A sweet, sweet woman named Ms. Eleanor was interested in acquiring one of the beautiful mosaic tiles we offer for families to honor lost loved ones at Peppi’s House, the inpatient facility for TMC Hospice. Before she could get started, though, with telling me about her request, Ms. Eleanor asked my name again (I tend to speak fast). This is where her voice cracked. You see, Ms. Eleanor was calling for a mosaic tile to memorialize her late husband … also named Bruce. To Ms. Eleanor this was a sign she was doing the right thing.She then began to share the incredible love story with “her” Bruce for the next hour or so. Through many tears, both hers and mine, she shared how they met in Chicago in the late 1960s, married in the early 1970s and everything they experienced together over the next 50 years. She shared how “her” Bruce was a diehard Chicago Bears fan and a fitness junkie, and together they were avid cyclists. They traveled all over the world bicycling across Canada, Hungary and in national parks across America. Upon their first visit, they fell in love with the blue skies of Tucson and made it their forever home in 2007.
Our conversation took place nearly a year to the date of Bruce’s passing while on home hospice care on Sept. 28, 2021. The sweetest part of our talk was when she shared that they never parted without lovingly saying “Ego te Amo” quickly followed by “I love you more” from the other. One of Ms. Eleanor’s most treasured possessions is a shaky handwritten note she received from her husband of more than half a century shortly before his passing. It simply says, “Ego te Amo.” To memorialize her love for “her” Bruce, Ms. Eleanor had these very words tattooed on her arm at 80+ years young.
Today, a desert mosaic tile featuring a roadrunner, cactus and “Ego te Amo” adorns Peppi’s House and provides Ms. Eleanor with a place to both remember and visit with “her” Bruce. Thank you for sharing these few minutes with me and allowing me to share their love story. Trust me when I say this was one the best hours of my professional life and reminds me why I truly love what I do. This love for our community is at the heart of our mission at TMC Health Foundation – to support the charitable mission of Tucson Medical Center and all its entities and dedication to improving the health and quality of life in our community.Please join Ms. Eleanor and me in making a gift to show your appreciation and support for the good works of TMC Health throughout the community using the form below.Happy Valentine's Day!Sincerely,
TMC Health Foundation
Bruce Ayers
Director of Major GiftsTMC Health Foundation
An email confirmation will be sent if a valid email address is provided and an acknowledgement/tax receipt to the mailing address provided.The TMC Health Foundation does not sell, trade, rent or share personal information with third parties.
