Hospital auxiliary to host gala event celebrating milestone centennial anniversary and honoring local community leaders

MILFORD, CT (March 18, 2022) Just over a century ago Milford was small, but growing, community of about 10,000 residents. With its rising population, successful local industry and popularity as a destination beach resort, the areas’ heavily traveled Boston Post Road became the site of many automobile accidents. Alarmed by the lack of local access to medical facilities, in 1920, a small group of citizens formed the Milford Hospital Society to lead the way in ensuring Milford had its own hospital.

With support from the town’s oldest resident, Judge Charles Beardsley, who donated 3.5 acres of land to the Society including the historic Stockade House (c. 1660), the temporary Milford Hospital admitted its first patients on January 17, 1921. With a significantly expanded footprint and numerous additions, the modern hospital still stands on the property today. To ensure continued access to healthcare in the region, on June 9, 2019, Milford Hospital became a fully integrated campus of Bridgeport Hospital and part of the Yale New Haven Health System.

After two postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bridgeport Hospital Auxiliary is pleased to mark the historic milestone with an in-person Centennial Gala to be presented on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at the Inn at Longshore in Westport. During the event, members of the Milford community will be honored with the Milford Campus LEGACY medal for Leadership, Engagement, Growth and Community Service through the Years. The medals will be presented to Samuel Bergami, Jr., Richard Meisenheimer, Carol and Christian McInnis, David Esposito, MD and the former Milford Hospital Auxiliary. Their collective contributions, dedicated service and commitment to the past, present and future of the hospital have paved the way for the next hundred years of caring for our communities.

“With its’ humble beginnings, rich history and promise for the future, we are incredibly excited to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Milford campus,” said Anne Diamond, JD, President of Bridgeport Hospital. “For over a century, the hospital has been an important part of the fabric of our community. We remain one of the city’s largest employers and we are incredibly fortunate to have the talent, expertise and dedication of our employees, physicians and community supporters like Sam, Richard, Carol, Chris and Dr. Esposito who are being honored with LEGACY medals. As we look back, we all realize that our history and legacy are not just about buildings, equipment and dates, but about the people we care for and the people who are providing the care and support.”

The gala will culminate a 15-month celebration of the centennial which, due to COVID-19 restrictions, included a variety of non-traditional and virtual events. There are still opportunities to join the celebration. A limited number of tickets are still available for the Centennial Gala. Sponsorship, advertising and congratulatory messages for LEGACY medal honorees are also being accepted for publication in the Milford Campus Commemorative Centennial Journal. To learn more visit: bit.ly/centgala21

Bridgeport Hospital, part of Yale New Haven Health, is a non-profit 501-bed acute care hospital with two campuses (plus 42 beds licensed to Yale New Haven Children's Hospital). Its Bridgeport and Milford Campuses serve patients from across the region. The hospital admits more than 23,000 patients and provides nearly 350,000 outpatient treatments annually. The Connecticut Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital is the only burn center in the state and one of only 64 verified burn centers in the United States. Bridgeport Hospital is committed to providing safe, compassionate and cost efficient care to its patients and the community. www.bridgeporthospital.org