For 60 years, hospital heroines and best of friends

Goldie and Gladys. Gladys and Goldie.

Their lives and their hospital volunteer work have been as intertwined as their names. (The short version: For a while in childhood, Goldie Block was called Gladys, a popular name of the day. And the name on Gladys Cutler's birth certificate is Goldie.)

For upward of six decades, they have worked to raise funds for the Women's League for Medical Research, formed in 1951 to benefit the Albert Einstein Medical Center. While other groups may garner larger grants, this group of mostly women, led for much of the time by Goldie and Gladys, worked dollar by dollar, through bingo fund-raisers and annual ad books, to raise $2.8 million for cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal care.

They've both been president - separately and as co-presidents - and they've served on "every committee there is or ever was," they say.

As Einstein Healthcare Network celebrates its 150 anniversary, it is lauding Goldie and Gladys, saying they "highlight the important role that volunteers and members of the auxiliary play in the success of health-care organizations such as Einstein. They are truly unsung heroes."

We recently spoke with Goldie Block, 82, of Mount Laurel, and Gladys Cutler, 93, of Northeast Philadelphia, about their work and their lives. Here is a condensation of a delightfully freewheeling session, full of humor and wisdom.

How did you get involved in the league?
Gladys: I'm a member 65 years. My oldest son at that time was 3 years old. My younger son was 2. I was national president and took every job that was available and loved every minute of it. And you might say, well, you had two small children and a house to run, how come the organization? Women's League represented something more than being a housewife or working in the outside world. Everyone I knew, in their family or friends, had someone with a heart problem. And I felt it was important to make a contribution to help solve heart disease.

Goldie: When I joined, I did not have children. I had a neighbor I had become friendly with. She was selling Jewish New Year greeting cards. I ended up buying five boxes. She said to me, "You know, you bought five boxes; there's a donor credit on that. You ought to join the organization." I did, and of course we became very, very dear friends. Unfortunately, she's gone now. But that's how I became a member.

Raising money is so difficult. How did you do it?
Gladys: We had a project called Heart of Gold, where someone took a chance on a card for $10. We had weekly drawings at $50 each. About 30 years ago, I read in the paper about the United Way starting the donor option program. I contacted them and became one of the organizations. And the girls would contribute out of their paychecks if they worked at Einstein. And we sold merchandise; we sold candy. There were bingos and fashion shows and dinner parties. The women were incredibly generous, very hardworking. Once you joined Women's League, it became part of your life. It became part of your family. Your children helped. Your sisters and brothers. Everybody contributed.

[The league also instituted a "tree of life" project, with the names of loved ones hand-painted by Goldie on the leaves.] That tree of life has brought in a lot of money. It's very dear to us and very meaningful.

Goldie: I want to reiterate that this organization worked on nickels and dimes, literally. One of the first things they wanted me to do is go out canning. I said, "What is that?" They said, "Three or four of us get in a car and we ring doorbells or knock on doors." People gave nickels and dimes. If somebody gave you a dollar, that was very exciting.

What are some of the things you're proudest of?
Gladys: We built an organization from scratch. We had a convention every year, for three days, just for women, and we all left our children with babysitters and husbands and went up to the mountains to plan our organization. We have a constitution which is based on the U.S. Constitution, the same format, and the same bylaws. I'm very proud of that.

Actually, it began at Hahnemann. We had one room on the 15th floor, and that was for 15 kidney dialysis patients. Einstein contacted our director, Dr. Harry Goldberg, and tried to influence him to come there. His reply was that "I will come to Einstein as long as the women come with me." From that, we established a kidney lab and a pulmonary lab. We built an organization that became world-renowned.

Goldie: We established the first catheterization lab at Einstein. And I've been a patient in that lab. Not happily, but I'm here. Which is my answer to anybody that says,"how ya doing?" I'm here. I had a pacemaker put in at Einstein I think it's three years ago. And I'm fine. Unfortunately, you never know. Later today, I have an appointment with my oncologist in this building. If you are fortunate enough to get older, things happen, and you handle it the best you can.

Now, the League is dwindling. What next?
Gladys: At one time, we had 1,000 members. But all of that came with a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and gathering other women to join, and various projects. Now, most of our members have passed away or are in homes or have moved away. My goal at the beginning was to raise $3 million. I'm still praying that we do.

Goldie: At this point in our lives, it's difficult. It's not only losing people, it's losing the organization. It's a great part of our lives. So we do what we can. Maybe you know someone who has an extra million they don't need. You could steer that individual to us.

Clearly, you are good friends. What do you like about each other?
Goldie: I admire her so. She's not afraid to tell me what she thinks of me, which hurts when she gives me a negative, but then, what are friends for? She has done so many things in this life, and I want to emulate her. She's a wonderful human being. Things that are important to her are important to me. The organization, of course. Her family. People. And I especially like her because she likes to laugh. If it's up to me, I want to laugh.

Gladys: Goldie is very dear to me because she helps me go through trying times. One of her favorite things, which I've learned to use and it has helped me, is if something disturbing happens in the family or whatever. She'll say, "Glad, we'll get through this." It's amazing how that sentence works. And we do. I love her because she's very pragmatic. She says what she feels, and she feels what she says. There have been times when she could let you have it. She's completely honest, completely sincere, and not too many people are like that. And we have some laughs. And sometimes a glass of wine, which works miracles.

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