'An awesome gift'
$1.2 million donated to LHU & Clinton County SPCABy ERIC SMITH — For The Express
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The generous bequest to the community comes from the estate of former Lock Haven resident Gladys V. Romeo, who died July 25, 2007. Gladys was the mother of the late Dr. Victoria J. Romeo and widow of Victor Romeo.
Gladys established that the bequest would be split two ways:
n The Lock Haven University Foundation will receive 50 percent to fund scholarships for students in the LHU Physician Assistant Program. The scholarship will be in memory of her late daughter, Victoria.
n The Clinton County SPCA will receive 50 percent to help homeless animals at the local shelter become healthy adoptable pets, by vaccinating, spaying and neutering, and updating the facilities to keep the animals comfortable and safe.
“Gladys and Victoria Romeo will continue to do wonderful things with their bequest, and Lock Haven University is honored to be one of two significant community beneficiaries,” said LHU President Dr. Keith T. Miller.
“This selfless gift will perpetually enable students to afford an education and go on to become physician assistants. It will give back exponentially as those very graduates of the LHU Physician Assistant Program will wind up helping with the medical treatment of and care of others,” he said.
Clinton County SPCA’S President Mary Jo Williamson said the organization is thankful for the much-needed gift.
“Our SPCA wouldn’t be able to function without bequests and donations” Williamson said. “But at the same time, it is really important that people realize that this money will be invested to help with spaying and neutering, and the SPCA still needs community support.”
The SPCA participates in National Spay Day every February, and last year the SPCA actually paid out $6,000 to cover costs for the event, she said, noting that the service was provided at a $20 discount to pet owners.
Since the SPCA’s purpose is to have animals at the shelter adopted, the costs of adoption are low and not a significant source of revenue, Williamson said.
“We couldn’t survive on our adoptions alone. It takes caring, generous people from our community, such as the Romeo’s to help keep our shelter on it feet, and be here for the needs of homeless, sick, injured, and abandoned animals,” said Williamson, who has been a member of the SPCA board for 15 years, the last seven as president.
The Romeos have always been animal lovers, according to Williamson, who knew Victoria personally.
Victoria attended Lock Haven State College in the mid-1960s, which helped pave the way for her to go on to the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, now known as the Drexel University College of Medicine. After college, she returned to her hometown of Lock Haven to practice family medicine. She had a special interest in women’s health and volunteered many hours at LHU caring for women students. She also was a strong advocate for the LHU Physician Assistant Program.
“It is indeed an awesome gift for students and we hope to utilize the money to provide scholarships to students who demonstrate a commitment to remain in state providing primary care to underserved populations,” said Physician Assistant Department Chairman Walter Eisenhauer.
The nationally-ranked, LHU Physician Assistant Program is a graduate, entry level program with a mission to prepare highly qualified physician assistants for practice in rural and medically underserved regions of the Commonwealth, Eisenhauer said. Victoria understood the need for physician assistants, he noted.
“Dr Romeo was a lifelong resident of Clinton County who was intimately aware of the challenges of delivering primary care services in rural communities,” Eisenhauer said.
“She served as a physician supervisor for numerous PAs, including myself while she was in practice and remained a staunch supporter of the PA profession,” Eisenhauer said. “Her support of the PA profession and of individual PAs is sorely missed. This gift will enable future PA students to celebrate her accomplishments, commitment to Clinton County and to the regional medical community, and commitment to the philosophy of dependent PA practice.
