The youngest of nine, SHIM volunteer Ed grew up in Morningside in a large Catholic family. His grandfather emigrated to the US from Ireland and owned a farm where the Cathedral of Learning now stands.
Ed’s family oriented themselves towards helping those in need. They weren’t well off, but his parents showed him the importance of helping neighbors who weren’t doing as well. After serving as a physician in the Vietnam war, he returned with an even more compassionate viewpoint. When not busy with combat casualties, Ed did rounds in a civilian aid patrol. He remembered returning to the US and thinking that all Americans should see what living in a third world country is like, to gain perspective on how blessed we are.
“I’ve always wanted to give back. I feel like I was a privileged person all my life.”
While Ed knew from an early age that he wanted to be a doctor, his journey was atypical. After being rejected from University of Pittsburgh (which was only four blocks from his house), he decided to major in economics at Georgetown. While he worried that not having a BS in biology might hold him back, he chose economics since the class sizes were smaller. He took his sciences on the side and was able to attend medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin. After interning at Mercy Hospital, he fulfilled his military obligation and completed is orthopedic residency. During a one-year fellowship in spine surgery at the University of Southern California, he met Robyn, his wife of fifty years. When they finished residency, he convinced her to move back to Pittsburgh with him, and they settled in Upper St Clair.
An accomplished orthopedic surgeon, Ed worked at Mercy and St Clair hospitals and established his own private practice. After suffering a stroke at age 63, Ed decided to retire, since he was no longer able to perform surgery.
Looking to channel his compassion for helping people into a new endeavor, Ed began working with Catholic Charities to develop a healthcare system for the working poor and people who didn’t have health insurance. During the eleven years he partnered with them, they expanded their offerings to include dentists, nurses, and doctors, including eleven specialists. One employee was paid to oversee operations while the health professionals donated time and expertise.
Ed also volunteered with Operation Safety Net, an outreach program bringing healthcare and resources to unhoused people in Pittsburgh. He enjoyed being part of a program that helped keep unhoused people out of emergency rooms while providing immediate aid. Ed even took his children with him when volunteering downtown, to show them what life was like for people facing hardship. While many patients had mental health challenges, others had lost their jobs or gone through a divorce, ending up on the streets because they could no longer pay their mortgage. Ed loved being part of this community of generous healthcare providers.
“Volunteer physicians and nurses got a great sense of joy out of providing what is needed, which is the same thing at the SHIM pantry.”
At age 84, Ed’s wife asked him to change his volunteer habits to a safer and more predictable setting, so Ed began volunteering with SHIM. He helps neighbors access healthy foods and provides a warm and accepting demeanor to people facing economic instability. 
“The people coming to the pantry are just like us- while my wife shops at the grocery store, other people need to come to the pantry. They just reach their needs differently.”
Ed’s compassion shines through as he shares his perspective of acceptance. Even when others wonder if people are taking advantage of resources, Ed understands that we never know what’s going on in someone else’s life. Maybe they’re terse because they’re having a bad day, or maybe they’re coming to the food pantry in a nice car because they borrowed it to access food for their family.
“Whatever you’re thinking, throw it out of your mind because you have no idea what someone else is going through.”
Part of what Ed likes about SHIM’s food pantry is our focus on nutritious food. He helps distribute eggs, milk, and meat alongside fellow volunteers handing out fresh produce. Ed notes that every time he volunteers, he hears gratitude from the people attending pantry distributions.
“What I see every time I show up at pantry are people very expressive of their gratefulness. They really leave the impression that you’re providing something that they’re very thankful for. I think SHIM provides a great deal for people in need. If SHIM weren’t here, I don’t know where these people would go.”
We’re so grateful for Ed’s commitment to helping his neighbors. With only three full-time staff members operating our basic needs programs, volunteers are essential in providing food to the 4,000 people benefiting from our food pantries each month. We are powered by generous volunteers like Ed!
