SUNDAY MORNING

Every Sunday morning, I get out of bed before 9 AM to sit and watch “Sunday Morning” with Jane Pauley.  Sometimes I’m out of bed by 8:30, sometimes I’m out of bed by 8:59, but regardless I never miss “Sunday Morning”.

This past Sunday morning, December 1, the show, among other items, recognized December 1 as ‘World AIDS Day’.  Funny how the simplest things can ignite a flood of memories.  The day was designated on 12/1/1988 and I remember the era well.

From 1976-1989 I worked at the Paul I Hoxworth Blood Center, a division of the University of Cincinnati.  I started out as a clerk in HR, but gradually worked my way up to Assistant to the Director, at the time Tibor J. Greenwalt, MD.  He was something else.  Originally a child immigrant from Budapest during the time of Hitler.  His education led him to an MD degree specializing in blood research.  He landed at Hoxworth after his retirement from the American Red Cross Blood Division.  He was renowned in the field of blood research and was internationally known for his work in the field.  He was also a terror to work for, demanding, unforgiving, literally for many a tyrant.  His one saving grace in my opinion, was his work in training young blood bankers.  In that regard, he was kind and ever so patient.  Even with me, when I stalled out at finishing my undergraduate degree, he urged me on, until I finished.

He did have a quick temper.  That temper from the early 1980’s on focused in large part on the emerging publicity around AIDS.  As a researcher in blood, he adamantly denied any connection between AIDS and blood transfusions.  I never heard his entire argument in regard to denouncing the connection, but by 12/10/1982 when a baby in California died from AIDS transmitted via a transfusion, the evidence was becoming ever more evident.

     

Tibor J. Greenwalt, MD

Tibi (Tibor J.) traveled nationally and internationally to relevant medical meetings, and in short order he came to acknowledge the connection, and from that point on, every step imaginable was taken to protect the Hoxworth blood supply and the Greater Cincinnati community.

I left Hoxworth in 1989 and Dr. Greenwalt stepped down as Director and stayed at Hoxworth continuing in research.  He and his wife would occasionally invite me and his other favorite employee, Earl Walz, to their home for lovely evenings of dinner and visits.  He died on July 17, 2005 from congestive heart failure at the age of 91.  Still think of him often, and in my heart, thank him, for being who he was.