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Left to right: Darrell and Barbara Sooy, and Ted and Rosemarie Ockels—power donors and longtime supporters of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and Alta Bates Summit Foundation.
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A community hospital can be good, or it can be great — and the difference largely depends on the involvement of the community itself.
Exactly what inspires community support may vary in detail, but at Alta Bates Summit, most donors have a personal connection with the Medical Center. Over the years, countless memorable connections to the Medical Center have been forged — and honored. Following are the stories of two exceptional couples, whose activism and generosity are truly an inspiration.
Ted and Rosemarie Ockels
Ted and Rosemarie Ockels met at church when they were both students at UC–Berkeley and quickly discovered they shared two things — a love of music and a strong belief in giving back to their community. After graduation, they tied the knot and settled in the East Bay to raise a family. “We had our four children at Alta Bates Summit, and it just made sense,” Rosemarie says. “The Medical Center has always been there for us.”
Rosemarie and Ted Ockels
Meanwhile, Ted began donating his time to the hospital as well. He’s been a member of the Alta Bates Medical Center Board of Trustees and has served as chair of the Alta Bates Foundation. He is also a Lifetime Trustee and has received the Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ted helped raise funds for the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center and The Picard Emergency Department, named in honor of Dr. William and Bobbie Picard, who were close friends of the Ockels. Medical care is more important to Ted now than ever, as he was diagnosed with cancer last year. “The care I’ve received at the Cancer Center has been outstanding,” he says. “I think everyone ought to know what a great place we have.”
And Ted continues to give. As a pianist, he still entertains at Foundation events. “I’ve played a piano, either solo or with little groups, during the cocktail hour,” he says. “That way, people can enjoy some music and hopefully be put in a mood for giving.”
Barbara and Darrell Sooy
Darrell and Barbara Sooy
For 34 years, Darrell and Barbara Sooy have been ardent supporters of Alta Bates Summit, where three generations of Sooys — Darrell, his mother, and he and Barbara’s son — were born.
Darrell’s mother was active in the Medical Center’s Auxiliary, so getting involved himself seemed only natural. He was the first chair of the Alta Bates Summit Foundation and was involved in capital campaigns for the Emergency Department and the Centers of Excellence, for which he served as chair.
The Sooys established the Matthew Brandon Sooy Memorial Event to honor their son, who had asthma and died when he was just 17. Proceeds from the event have benefited asthma programs, the Ethnic Health Institute, and most recently, a nursing scholarship.
Darrell and Barbara support the Foundation because the Medical Center is dedicated to serving the entire community. “Alta Bates Summit accepts anyone who comes in the door,” Darrell explains. “We’re kind of the first line of defense to help people in need.”
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