Donor Stories
1934…A Very Good Year: Classmates Dr. Hess and Dr. Jewell
In celebration of their 65th reunion year, two Medical School alumni have established professorships. The Gertrude Donnelly Hess, M.D. Professorship in Cancer Research and the James H. Jewell, M.D., MED '34 Professorship in Genetics are a culmination of the generous legacies of Dr. Hess and Dr. Jewell.
Gertrude Donnelly Hess
After obtaining her undergraduate degree at FSM in 1926, a short sojourn at the Cleveland Clinic as a medical technician convinced her to move her aspirations up to a doctor. As one of only two women in her graduating class she enjoyed the distinction of being a "maverick." After her internship and residency in Pittsburgh, she started a family medicine practice at Kamm's Corners on the west side of Cleveland, maintaining her maiden name of Donnelly to avoid confusion.
In 1973 illness forced Dr. Hess to retire, thus beginning her generous legacy at Case. The establishment of the Gertrude Donnelly Hess, M.D. Professorship in Cancer Research is the latest in a gift profile that includes two Unitrusts, three Gift Annuities, 14 Annuity Trusts, and a will commitment. "It gives me great pleasure to contribute to the School's success, especially with contributions which provide me with income for my lifetime and in the future will become a permanent fund to support an area of great interest to me—cancer research."
Dr. Hess credits Gilbert, her husband of 55½ happily married years, for "very carefully and wisely" investing in the stock market. Considering Dr. Hess' early practice charges of $2 per office visit, $3 for house calls, $5 for night house calls, and $50 (including pre and postnatal care) for baby deliveries, Gilbert was indeed a very successful investor.
James H. Jewell, M.D.
"I had nothing when I started out and it was tough. I know what it is like too struggle. If I can make it easier for someone else why not?" — James H. Jewell, M.D.
Dr. Jewell employed a healthy mix of fate and fortitude to shape his career. Often accompanying the local country doctor on house calls, he fell in love with "the smell of medicine" and his mantra became, "You must set goals, establish role models, and then pursue your objectives doggedly."
By the year 1934, Dr. James H. Jewell was doggedly pursuing his objectives having earned an undergraduate degree at Ohio University and his M.D. at Case. Graduation from medical school was dually celebrated with his commission as a First Lt. into the Army Medical Corps. Volunteering for active service, his career of saving lives began when he developed a plan for evacuating casualties by air during the Normandy invasion.
Dr. Jewell retired from the Air Force with the rank of Colonel in 1946 and joined the staff at St. Joseph Hospital in Mt. Clemens, Michigan where he settled with his first wife, Nellie Rowley Jewell. Serving as the Chief of Medical Staff and Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Jewell delivered thousands of babies, some of whom still give him recognition as their "deliverer."
Like Dr. Hess, Dr. Jewell's generous history to Case began in the 1980's. Credited with almost $2,000,000 worth of gifts, mainly to the Medical School, he found the Charitable Remainder Trust to be a "worthwhile way of estate planning and I am quite happy with it." His interests in genetics, ultimately leading to the establishment of his professorship, was generated by the memory of a family with five children, three of whom succumbed to hereditary malignancies.
Dr. Jewell is very modest about his philanthropic nature, preferring instead to perpetuate the Jewell name in honor of his forefathers who endured many hardships.
Dr. Hess and Dr. Jewell are classmates and friends whose commonality of the generosity of spirit, dedication, and investment will be perpetuated through many generations of Case students. We congratulate these two outstanding alumni as they celebrate their 65th reunion year and we offer our appreciation for the legacy that they leave us.
(Editor's Note: Subsequent to the publication
of this article, Dr. Jewell passed away on January 11, 2005
and Dr. Hess passed away on January 31, 2006.)
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