Hospice benefactors to be honored at private luncheon on May 30

Hospice of the North Shore and Greater Boston will be holding a luncheon celebration at the end of the month for the David Sherman Legacy Society, named for the man who gave the organization its largest bequest in its history.The society was named in Sherman?s memory last year, and Elizabeth Macomber, the hospice?s vice president for philanthropy, said the society is currently made up of 35 individuals who have already given to the hospice through their estate plan or have made a commitment to do so.The luncheon on May 30 will bring together and honor those who have promised to give back and family members of deceased benefactors.Sherman, a Swampscott resident who died in 2008 at the age of 101, was a “loyal donor” during his life, Macomber said, and the gift from his estate has been $1.5 million to date.?He had been a generous donor and supportive of our mission. In that aspect, we weren?t surprised that he would make that kind of gift. It was a surprise from the standpoint that we weren?t necessarily expecting it,” she said.Dr. Buck Weaver, a Swampscott orthodontist and friend of Sherman?s through the Swampscott Rotary, said Sherman “never tooted his own horn” about his extensive philanthropy to a variety of organizations in the area during his life.?He was always doing that kind of thing, not for publicity, just behind the scenes,” Weaver said.Weaver, who spoke at last year?s luncheon when the society was dedicated in Sherman?s name, said Sherman?s sizable gift the hospice was notable in that the organization never cared for him or a family member. Sherman was never married and had no kids, Macomber said.?He knew they did such a good work and appreciated what they did,” Weaver said.Sherman was a founding member of the Swampscott Rotary, serving as treasurer for 50 years, and owned Sherman Furniture on Railroad Avenue in Swampscott. He was also a World War II veteran, serving in the Army.Macomber said that money from planned giving has partly been a “transformational gift” that the hospice has used to create and pay for specialty programs not covered by insurance, such as a cardiac program and dementia support group.?For us, it?s really all about quality of life,” she said. “The focus for us is to really ensure that the patients and their families received excellent end-of-life care, and what we provide for them is both medical but also spiritual support.”The hospice?s planned giving program started around four years ago, Macomber said.?We?re trying to plant the seeds to have people think about a gift that can help in the future and perhaps include a bequest in their will for that purpose,” she said.Macomber said hospice care is very important for an individual with a short life expectancy, and the Hospice of the North Shore and Greater Boston has a team approach for each patient. The care is a combination of efforts from physicians and nurses, social workers and chaplains, hospice aides and volunteers.?For many families, it?s one of the most stressful experiences that they?ll ever have and an emotional time,” she said. “What our team can do is come in and provide them with support so they can really have quality time with loved ones at the end of their life.”For more information about planned giving to Hospice of the North Shore and Greater Boston, call Elizabeth Macomber at 978-750-9394.Sarah Mupo can be reached at [email protected].