Mercy Foundation's donor spotlight

Leo and Allene Corley:
“We are both so grateful for everything Saint Joseph’s has done”

Talk to Leo Corley and you will promptly discover why he and his wife, Allene, are such ardent supporters of Saint Joseph’s Hospital. There is the hospital’s quality, of course, along with the talents of two “wonderful” physicians, Dr. Ken Thomas and Dr. Basil Margolis, as well as the skills of an “outstanding” nursing staff.

These are the reasons Leo was able to enjoy and celebrate his 79th birthday earlier this year—and also the reasons Leo and Allene have been “seriously gifting” the hospital since 1981.

“Our experience with Saint Joseph’s, Dr. Thomas and Dr. Margolis, and the nurses is a bright spot in our lives,” says Leo, 25 years after chest pain sent him to the Saint. Joseph’s emergency room. Dr. Margolis, a cardiologist who was working that night, identified the problem. Dr. Thomas, a cardiothoracic surgeon, performed coronary bypass surgery. A second open-heart surgery followed in 1999.

“I have a family history of heart disease,” says Leo, whose brother, Gene, began having heart problems in his late 30s. Dr. Thomas, who is now deceased, did a total of three open-heart surgeries on Gene, “literally giving him another 30 years of life,” says Leo.

Stories of Dr. Thomas’ dedication are legendary. Once he stayed up all night for two nights to keep Gene alive. Another time, Gene was experiencing post-operative problems, and Dr. Thomas showed up in a tux, having been on his way to a party, to care for his patient.

In appreciation of this exceptional level of care, Leo and Allene are making significant bequests in honor of Dr. Margolis and Dr. Thomas and in memory of Gene, for Saint Joseph’s Kenneth E. Thomas Center for Nursing Excellence. This is in addition to the annual gifts they’ve been making since 1981.

“Dr. Thomas was a wonderful man and a wonderful doctor, as well as a friend,” says Leo. “The same for Dr. Margolis.

“And since Allene is a nurse (Georgia Baptist ’48), it all makes sense. The Center for Nursing Excellence ensures continued professional development of nurses and the legacy of nursing leadership, which is fundamental to high quality patient care and something we want to participate in. We are both so grateful for everything Saint Joseph’s has done.”