Overlake Auxiliaries celebrate 50 years of helping hospital

Lorraine Weltzian is a woman of action, dedication and heart. As a retired nurse, she first moved to Bellevue with her husband in 1949. While searching for ways to get involved with the community she stumbled on a group of business and community leaders who were on a mission to bring a hospital to the Bellevue area. She became ignited by the idea.

By Lindsay Larin • April 22, 2010 1:38 pm
The first Bandage Ball included a band made up of physicians and dancing under the stars.
The first Bandage Ball included a band made up of physicians and dancing under the stars.

Lorraine Weltzian is a woman of action, dedication and heart.

As a retired nurse, she first moved to Bellevue with her husband in 1949. While searching for ways to get involved with the community she stumbled on a group of business and community leaders who were on a mission to bring a hospital to the Bellevue area. She became ignited by the idea.

Now, more than 50 years later, Weltzian will join in the celebration of Overlake Hospital Medical Center at this year’s Bandage Ball gala event and auction on Saturday, April 24. The Overlake Hospital Auxiliaries’ Bandage Ball is the largest fundraising event of the year for the 337-bed hospital.

Prior to the hospital’s opening in 1960, Weltzian gathered a group of women neighbors in Clyde Hill and formed the first auxiliary for the future Overlake Hospital Medical Center. The auxiliary’s goal was to raise funds and awareness for a world-class medical center on the east side of the bridge. They did so by going door-to-door, holding plant sales and fun events such as Bingo Night. They named their auxiliary, Fabiola, after the Roman woman credited with founding the first public hospital in Western Europe.

“Every community needs a hospital. A place where the sick can go and be cared for,” Weltzian said. “We all believed very strongly in bringing a hospital to this area.”

Women from other small neighborhoods in Bellevue began forming new auxiliaries, all with a unique, but unifying purpose.

Weltzian still remembers the first $50 check her auxiliary presented to the hospital after a fundraising event at a local farmhouse. She also recalls the very first Bandage Ball, an event marked by a live orchestra made up of doctors, bed pans as ash trays, silly costumes and dancing. A lot of dancing.

“Everyone supported the cause and had fun,” she said. “It was a really ‘take hold’ type of a thing and it took hold of the hearts of the community.”

Now in her 80s, Lorraine remains active after 57 years of involvement, currently serving as the historian on the Auxiliary Board, while also working with the membership committee.

“I’m in my late 80s and I’m the only founding member left living in the Bellevue area,” she explained. “I have continued working with the auxiliary because my heart is in it. I want to do everything I can for as long as I can. It was important to me then and it’s important to me now.”

Tickets are $250 per person. For tickets, contact Muffie Signalness at 425-688-5529 or e-mail auxiliaries@overlakehospital.org. More information is available at www.overlakehospital.org/BandageBall.

Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425-453-4602.