TOP: St. Augustine Health Campus Executive Director Patrick Gareau, wife Maureen and son Kevin wore shades of green for the “Top o’ the Towers” party. BOTTOM: Charles and Carol Rini, event chairwoman, and Maddy and Dan Coughlin, auctioneer, were among the guests at “Top o’ the Towers.”

‘Top o’ the Towers’ benefits St. Augustine
By Cynthia Schuster-Eakin
Insights
Published March 31, 2010

The St. Augustine Health Campus “Top o’ the Towers” benefit, held annually around St. Patrick’s Day, drew 500 mostly green-clad revelers to La Centre on March 5.

This year’s event was a salute to the Coterie of St. Augustine Manor, the women’s auxiliary that has served St. Augustine residents for more than 38 years. In late 1971, at the suggestion of Bishop Clarence Issenman, Fred Krizman, then director of St. Augustine, asked Mrs. Daniel Roberto to organize a volunteer group. Many have joined the Coterie over the years, working in the gift shop, craft shop and patient services and organizing special events for residents.

The $100,000 raised at this year’s “Top o’ the Towers” will help to provide extras like art therapy and rehabilitation therapy for residents, according to St. Augustine Executive Director Patrick Gareau.

“With rising costs and continued cuts for Medicaid reimbursement to skilled nursing facilities, we must continue to speak for those whose voices might not be heard — the chronically ill and aging,” Gareau said.

“Top o’ the Towers” featured both silent and live auctions, a dinner buffet and Irish music by Michael Crawley and Marys Lane.

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