Eyes on the Future - The Order of St. John

®
FOR THE FAITH AND
IN THE SERVICE OF HUMANITY
Eyes on the Future
THE ORDER OF ST JOHN
®
PRIORY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRIOR
I write to honor a Confrère who has had
an enormous influence on the stability
and well being of our Priory. Anthony
Roger Mellows, OBE, TD, who died January 10, 2016, was the Lord Prior of the
Most Venerable Order of the Hospital
of St John of Jerusalem, the Order’s
highest non-Royal office, from 2008 to
2014. A remarkable individual, he had
an extraordinary rapport with our Priory.
An officer in British military intelligence,
Tony later became a professor of law at
the University of London, then Head of
the Department of Law at King’s College
London and Dean of the Faculty of Laws
of the University of London. When we
rewrote our Priory’s bylaws, Tony was
there for us, spending endless hours
advising and assisting us.
Like many of you, my first experience
with our Priory was the Welcome Breakfast at my Investiture. Tony, then-incoming Lord Prior, was the featured speaker.
It was a remarkable presentation, full
of insight, wit, and erudition that I still
vividly recall. Tony became a regular
feature of our Investitures, instilling in
new Members our heritage and mission
as an order of chivalry serving the sick
and the poor. He performed this service
at our recent Investiture in Dallas, and
moderated the Chivalry Breakfast on
Sunday morning with his usual flair,
eloquence and punctuality.
Charles de Gaulle once sardonically observed, “Cemeteries are full of indispensable people.” Au contraire, General. In
many ways, Tony is irreplaceable within
our Order. Over the years, Priory members came to feel a special relationship
with Tony. Some were blessed to have
Volume 7, Number 1
Winter 2016
his personal guidance. He was always
available to share his wisdom, which I
sought regularly. His sense of the appropriate finely tuned, he provided insight
and objectivity, qualities so needed in a
complex, troubled world.
Our last meeting was in London in
November. Our Grand Prior had asked
him to provide a report on a variety of
issues facing the Order, and (as he was
doing with other Priors) Tony sought
my thoughts on the issues involved.
His questions were the essence of
evenhandedness, and when he held
a different perspective, he shared it
honestly and engaged in discussion, not
debate. His final report, not surprisingly,
reflected great balance. A month later,
after completing the report and submitting it, Tony tragically died.
On a personal level, my wife Amy,
daughter Lang and I all grew to love
Tony and his wife Elizabeth. Whenever
we were in London, we tried to connect, sometimes at his beloved house in
Temple Bar. In paying deserved tribute
to Tony, I would be remiss if I failed to
note our love — and indeed that of the
Priory — for Elizabeth, who tirelessly
accompanied him on his many international trips as Lord Prior and to our
Investitures. We fervently hope she will
continue to join us. She has been, and
will continue to be, a part of our lives
and that of the Priory. Our thoughts and
prayers are with her now.
As we pray at the Investiture Service for
Confrères Departed, “Grant them mercy
and the light of thy countenance so that
the good work which thou has begun in
them may be perfected.”
Palmer C. Hamilton, KStJ
Elizabeth Mellows, Prior Hamilton, Tony Mellows, and
Lang Hamilton at the Mellows’ home in London.
A Service of Thanksgiving for the
life of Anthony Mellows will be
held at the Temple Church in London EC4Y 7BB (off Fleet Street) on
April 15, 2016, at 3 pm. All those
who knew and worked with him
will be most welcome. Admission
is by ticket only. For information,
contact the Priory office.
NEW TIME, NEW PLACE: THE 2016 INVESTITURE
Since 9/11, downtown Manhattan has undergone a renaissance. With more than $30 billion in public and private investments, what was once thought a colorless area of New York
City has changed dramatically. Now, downtown is alive at all
hours with restaurants, hotels, taxis and shopping ops. The
2016 Investiture will be held the weekend of October 21–23,
giving Confrères the chance to experience for themselves
what many call the “hippest” part of New York City! And for
the first time, the Investiture takes place at an earlier date
than the traditional first weekend in November, which in the
past has conflicted with All Saints’ Day, Halloween and the
New York Marathon.
Trinity Wall Street. An Episcopal parish chartered by William
III in 1697, Trinity was the first place of worship for the Church
of England in New York City. Even during the Revolutionary
War, Trinity’s clergy continued to pray for George III. After the
Revolutionary War, Trinity helped form the Episcopal Church
of America. The current building is the third on the site. It was
designed in the Neo-Gothic tradition by Richard Upjohn and
was consecrated in 1846. Also part of its parish is St. Paul’s Chapel, built in 1766, and the oldest public building in New York
City. George Washington prayed there after his inauguration
as President in 1789 because Trinity Church burned during the
Great Fire of 1776.
Investiture Central will be the Battery Park Ritz-Carlton Hotel,
which commands a spectacular view of the Statue of Liberty
and the New York harbor. A 2015 AAA Five Diamond hotel, the
Ritz-Carlton has superb facilities, including a fitness center,
spa and a modern American bistro. The Saturday and Sunday
morning events will be held at the hotel, as will the Friday
night reception.
The Saturday gala will be held at the spacious Cipriani Wall
Street. A Greek Revival building built in 1836 and renovated
over the years, this New York landmark served as the home
of the New York Merchants’ Exchange, the New York Stock
Exchange, the US Customs House, and was the headquarters
of the National City Bank (Citibank). The ballroom has a 70-foot
ceiling with a coffered Wedgwood dome and gray marble
floors — quite simply one of the most elegant settings in
the city.
Night view from the Ritz-Carlton.
Today’s Trinity Wall Street is a diverse parish of 1,000 parishioners with many outreach programs and a Grammy-nominated
choir led by Julian Wachner, DMA, MStJ, who will write a
special anthem for the Investiture service. The Regional Chair
for New York, The Rev’d Deacon Robert J.A. Zito, CStJ, serves on
the clergy staff and his wife Dana Cole, MStJ, and many other
New York Confrères are members. Investiture co-chairs are
Jean Savage, CStJ, and Douglas Evans, CStJ.
Manhattan downtown is a bustling place with many attractions that are at most a 10-minute walk. To cite a few: The
9/11 Memorial Museum; ferries to Liberty, Governor’s and
Ellis Islands, and the South Street Seaport. Confrères nostalgic for mid-town shopping and dining will find a plethora
of choices — the legendary Century 21, as well as the new
Brookfield Place shopping mall, its shops ranging from Hermés
to Davidoff, Ferragamo to Burberry, and Saks to Gucci. Great
restaurants abound, from Le District (a French marketplace) to
Blue Ribbon Sushi, P.J. Clarke’s to Eataly (Italian restaurants and
products) in the new World Trade Center.
Confrères will fondly remember mid-town Manhattan as the
site of many wonderful Investitures over the years. Now they
will experience another facet of the Big Apple, the city that
never sleeps or stops changing. In the immortal words sung by
Petula Clark, “Go downtown…Everything’s waiting for you!”
The heart of the weekend, the Investiture service, will be
at one of Manhattan’s oldest and most historic institutions,
Karen Miller Lamb, CStJ
PUT FELLOWSHIP, FUN AND RENEWAL ON YOUR CALENDAR!
Mountain States Confrères invite you, your children and grandchildren to join them for a summer roundup at the oldest dude
ranch. An Eatons’ Ranch Rendezvous will be held July 20th through July 23rd — and you may even decide to extend your visit!
Eatons’ Ranch is at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains in Wolf, Wyoming. Come join in the ranch’s activities for all ages, including
riding, hiking, fishing, sightseeing, and activities for children, and help introduce special guest Brigadier Tom Ogilvie-Graham,
MBE, OStJ, and CEO of the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group to Order candidates and the local community. To plan
ahead, contact Isabel Wallop, DStJ ([email protected]) or Mary Dailey, DStJ ([email protected])
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Eyes on the Future • Vol. 7, No. 1
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THE ORDER OF ST JOHN
MARCIA V. MAYO, CStJ: THE HORIZON STRETCHES ON
When Marcia Virginia Mayo, CStJ, was growing up in Oklahoma, she delighted in summers at her family’s ranch. She helped
ranch hands with branding, driving, and vaccinating cattle;
trained her horse to jump; and in her own words, “rode as far as
I dared before turning back.” She exemplified the pioneer spirit
that led her Midwestern-born grandparents to embrace the
opportunities of “Oklahoma, Indian Territory,” as it was referred
to in her grandmother’s wedding announcement.
Marcia’s adult life took
her further away from
her beloved Oklahoma as
she trained and worked
at Sotheby’s in New York,
then became an appraiser
and the director of its midAtlantic office in WashingMarcia V. Mayo and Dr. Bothwell Lee at
ton, DC. Eventually, she
the Dallas Investiture.
accepted a position in the
Department of State’s Art in Embassies program, where she curated art exhibitions for the residences of US ambassadors, and
wrote and edited the accompanying catalogues. Marcia now
focuses her efforts on raising private funding for the stewardship of the Department’s historic buildings abroad and their
collections of fine and decorative arts.
That grown-up little girl who flew over the prairies still delights
not only in horseback riding but also in pushing herself to the
limit. Marcia credits her heritage for her achievements: “It has influenced me personally and professionally in that I have a strong
work ethic and value independence.” Her parents, Ruth Hall Mayo
and Cass Allen Mayo Jr., and her aunt Virginia helped to form her
goals and worldview. They were, resolute, self-reliant, resilient,
and involved as civic leaders, volunteers, and philanthropists to
organizations and individuals needing a helping hand.
Ever widening her horizons, Marcia has served on many
boards, including those of the Washington National Opera, the
DC Jazz Festival, the National Trust for Historic Preservation,
Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, and Gilcrease Museum
in Tulsa. All are linked, she believes, because the organizations
teach people about the history and the cultural milieu of another place and time, and may generate new ways of thinking
about the present. She chooses her involvements carefully:
“The mission of the organization inspires me, as do the people
with whom I’m collaborating to advance it.”
Now a philanthropist herself, Marcia and her sister Cathryn
Mayo Moore have established in their parents’ honor the Ruth
and Allen Mayo Fund for Historic Preservation. Marcia says,
“I find my parents’ values and interests expressed in many of
the causes and organizations I support.” The Fund underwrites
preservation projects being undertaken by Oklahoma organizations, and supports individuals seeking to preserve and
enhance buildings and places of historic significance within
the state. For example, the Fund recently made a grant to the
Cherokee Nation to restore the roof of its nineteenth century
courthouse, and sponsored a book about the period neon
signs on the Oklahoma portion of Route 66.
Marcia has also become a very involved and generous Member
of the Order of St John, underwriting events at the Opera at
Tudor Place in Washington, DC. Having continuing vision problems herself (resulting from a detached retina) has made the
Priory’s mission resonate in a way it never had before. True to
form, she believes that the Order has the potential to broaden
the learning and compassion of others, particularly people
such as her two beloved nieces, one of whom she is proposing for the Order. “We need to appeal to younger prospective
members searching for meaning in their lives and worthwhile
causes in which to invest their time and treasure.”
Early in life, Marcia became passionate about preservation, art,
and religion, three interests that would dominate her life. As
a child, she and her family visited historic houses and museums all over the country, traveling by train so that they could
see the countryside. At Holland Hall, a prep school in Tulsa, a
British-born Anglican priest named Father Ralph Urmson-Taylor mentored her. She attributes her love of Anglican tradition
to him and to her mother, a dedicated Episcopal churchwoman. Father Ralph fostered an appreciation and respect for the
church’s cherished madrigals, sacramental rites, and customs.
At a young age, Marcia says, “I proudly identified myself as a
member of the worldwide Anglican communion!”
Marcia’s personal life includes neurosurgeon Bothwell Lee,
opera, scuba diving, restoration of an 1840s house, and
collecting late 19th-century American and European silver, glassware, and furniture. When she retires, she plans to
circumnavigate the globe by ship as she did while a student
with Semester at Sea, spending more time in the countries
visited. Jerusalem and the Order’s medical facilities are high
on her destination list.
Having won awards for her artwork, Marcia became attracted to
the religious art of the Italian Renaissance, the start of a lifelong
pursuit as she sought to learn about the past through art and the
lives of the artists. Around the same time, her mother presented
her with a membership in the National Trust for Historic Preservation. While it was difficult to choose between preservation and art
history, she decided to major in the latter at Southern Methodist
University. Over the years she has succeeded in combining her
three passions: “Art history and the study of art,” she comments,
“inform my interest in historic preservation and have made me
attuned to the spiritual dimension of the creative process.”
In Ponca City, Oklahoma, stand the Pioneer Woman Museum
and Statue, dedicated to the enduring spirit of the women of
Oklahoma — past, present, and future — who see no boundaries. Marcia Mayo, who continues to ride as far as she dares, is
one of them.
Karen Miller Lamb, CStJ
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THE ORDER OF ST JOHN
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Eyes on the Future • Vol. 7, No. 1
Joining the St John Family
As part of his “education” new Executive Director Brian Sayers
visited St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group in early December.
Here is his first-hand account.
My first day in Jerusalem started with a briefing from the Hospital Group’s senior staff, including CEO Brigadier Tom OgilvieGraham, MBE, OStJ; Paul Williams, Head of Administration
and Support; Medical Director Dr. Jeanne Garth, and Ahmad
Ma’ali, Director of Nursing. Julian V. Brandt III, CStJ, also visiting,
participated.
staff — a very special gathering. It brought new meaning to
the importance of our collective work for the “St John family.”
Next, Paul and I made a full day trip to Gaza. Security clearance
in hand, we approached the process of clearing into Gaza, first
with the Israeli authorities, then the Palestinian Authority and
finally Hamas. Although long by western standards, the process was smooth because of the Hospital’s meticulous planning. We toured the current St John clinic, and it became clear
why the new clinic was needed: Papers overfilled the filing
cabinets, space was tight and the infrastructure was decaying.
Despite conditions, the medical team kept the pace of treatment very high. We then visited the new clinic, scheduled to
open in early 2016. The contrast between the old and new was
literally jaw dropping.
After a thorough tour by Dr. Garth, I marveled anew at the
great progress made over the years, from the recent opening
of a lobby café to the complex improvement of the theatre
operating room. Tom has clearly placed an emphasis on quality for both patients and staff ; the result is a living testament
to the work St John is doing in the region. Paul then gave us a
tour of the historic Muristan site as well as a spontaneous minipilgrimage to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Western
Wall and the Via Delarosa. That evening, Tom organized an
“American Dinner” at the legendary American Colony Hotel.
I met representatives from the UN, EU and US Consulate. The
relationships between the Hospital staff and the diplomatic
corps are a critical component for assistance on many projects.
Knowing the difficulty of moving supplies in and out of the
region, I marveled at how such a masterpiece of first-rate care
could be built among the ruins and rubble. This experience
was for me the epitome of
all the good the Hospital
Group does. After visiting
the seashore for a full view
of the Gaza strip, the staff
treated me to a seafood
lunch, one of the finest I’ve
had and something I clearly
was not anticipating as we
maneuvered through the
potholes and destruction.
Early the next morning, I was off to Hebron, joining the team
for mobile outreach. Picking up staff along the way, we drove
to a remote village and set up equipment inside a simple
medical clinic run by the Palestinian Authority. It soon became apparent why the mobile outreach clinic is so critical for
Palestinians in these isolated areas with limited access to care.
Young and old waited patiently as staff registered, consulted
and examined patients, distributing or prescribing medicine
on the spot, and referring them to the St John clinic in Hebron
for more serious issues. We visited with more than 70 patients,
then drove to the new clinic in Hebron. It is most impressive
and another example of the first-class treatment St John gives.
Returning home, I had a
long layover in London,
where I met with the Director of Fundraising for the
Hospital Group, Isla Richards.
I briefed her on my visit,
Brian Sayers visits the new Gaza Clinic.
and we discussed ways our
development strategies could be best aligned going forward.
En route to Jerusalem, we encountered time-consuming
checkpoints. I pondered their socioeconomic cost, not only
to the economy, but to
residents and
laborers who
face them
each day,
including St
John staff and
patients. That
evening, we
dined with
The St John family shares a dinner.
senior Hospital
I have immeasurable pride in the humanitarian work the Order
of St John is conducting in Jerusalem and beyond. I cannot
encourage you enough to consider your own personal visit
to the region to see the Order’s stunning success. I can assure
that you will find it a great source of personal and spiritual
inspiration.
Brian Sayers, Executive Director
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Eyes on the Future • Vol. 7, No. 1
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THE ORDER OF ST JOHN
BRIAN SAYERS: FAITH IN THE FUTURE
THE MURISTAN SITE COMES ALIVE AGAIN
Faith, rather than “religion,” centers Brian Sayers, who cites
St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Blessed John Henry Newman, and
his mother as the figures who have most influenced his life.
As Executive Director, he will be well guided by faith as he
navigates the shoals — and joys — of managing the Priory
in the USA. The Order, he says, “is a testament to ‘unofficial’
diplomacy; It stands as a non-political beacon of light to the
most disadvantaged, commanding universal respect among
all nations.”
Legend holds that in the 2nd century BC, King Antiochus V ordered a hospital to be built on Golgotha, to serve the sick and
poor. In 600 AD, the Muristan, meaning “hospital” in Persian,
was mentioned when Abbot Probus was sent by Pope Gregory
the Great to build a hospital in Jerusalem to care for Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land. Over time, the Muristan was
destroyed and rebuilt by conquering armies. In 1005 caliph alHakim destroyed the hospital in large part, and in 1070, merchants from the Amalfi coast obtained permission from the
Fatimids to rebuild it. Initially, this hospital was run by Benedictine monks, but in the 1090s the Blessed Gerard took over this
responsibility. Thus arose a new order, the Hospitallers of Saint
John of Jerusalem, recognized in 1113 by the Pope.
Faith and diplomacy have been the hallmarks of Brian’s
career. Growing up in San Diego, he graduated from
Georgetown University and received a Master of Letters
in International Relations, Management and Economics
from the University of St Andrews. After working for NATO
in Brussels, he headed the Washington Charitable Trust,
founded to open dialogue and diplomacy to nations
through the medium of charitable giving. Along the way, he
married Adeline, Deputy Director of Trade for the European
Union’s delegation in the US. They have a four-year-old son,
Anthony, and a one-year-old daughter, Eva, and live not far
from Georgetown University, where they met as students.
Today, the Order owns a significant portion of the remains of
the old Muristan and is poised to once again make it a vital
part of daily life in the Old City of Jerusalem. The Muristan will
serve as a clinic with modern amenities, including a café, dining area and museum to showcase the Order’s contributions.
Hospital CEO Brigadier Tom Ogilvie-Graham, MBE, OStJ, who
spearheads the project, says, “My ambition is to make this site
a ‘Go-to’ destination for visitors and pilgrims to Jerusalem.”
Brian’s background uniquely qualifies him for the position.
His goals are to get to know the Priory’s devoted, generous
Members and to understand more fully why they have come
to love the Order. He plans to start a conversation with
them with the goal of putting in place a long-term strategic
framework for the Priory. Brian foresees an endowment
campaign to reduce overhead percentage to zero, thereby
ensuring that 100% of future donations go to charitable
giving. One challenge, he says, will be to balance the Order’s
tradition and character with modernity, especially in the way
the Priory communicates its message to the world.
Art celebrating
the Order’s rich,
ancient history
will be part of the
“new” Muristan.
Celebrated English
Sculptor Mark Coreth, a cousin of the
late Joseph Coreth,
CStJ, will create
a central piece of
sculpture. Ogilvie- Vic Brandt, Jill Hooper and Brian Sayers reviewing
plans at the Muristan site.
Graham says that
“one of the subjects under consideration is the Swift, a migratory bird that flies through Israel on its journey… the Swift is a
bird of endeavor, courage, fragility, bravery and optimism.”
Aligning funding and membership, Brian believes, is his
most important task as Executive Director. The Priory is first
and foremost a membership organization with Members
committed to the Order’s service and traditions. At the
same time, our Priory has just achieved the highest level
of funding in its history for the St John of Jerusalem Eye
Hospital Group, and it is vital to maintain this momentum.
“Having recently been on the ground in Jerusalem,” he says,
“I am amazed by how many lives are healed at such little
cost. It is really a testament to God’s work on earth.”
American Artist Jill Hooper, MStJ, is creating frescoes using
local pigments and colors. She says, “Frescoes will have significant social and cultural benefits embracing the Muristan’s art,
architecture, culture and history. This ancient artistic medium
will help transform the space and be a significant part of our
unique history.” Work has already begun on the project, which
will link the Order’s ancient history with its 21st-century one!
Outside of work and his family, Brian’s passions are
swimming and ice climbing, two pursuits requiring stamina
and goal-oriented action. These qualities will serve him well
as Executive Director, as he remembers the words of the
Blessed John Henry Newman in “Lead, Kindly Light:“ “So long
Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on.”
Julian V. Brandt III, CStJ, is a Chapter member and Regional
Chair for the Charleston region. Julian V. Brandt Real Estate
specializes in the sale of historic residential, commercial and
waterfront property, and provides property and regime management services. Vic and his wife, Anne, reside in Charleston,
where he has restored over 30 historic buildings. His son, Myles
Brandt, OStJ; and daughter, Evelyn Brandt Doron, MStJ, also live
in South Carolina.
Karen Miller Lamb, CStJ
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THE ORDER OF ST JOHN
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Eyes on the Future • Vol. 7, No. 1
LISTENING AS SERVICE
As a member of the St John Volunteer Corps, I work weekly at
the VA Medical Center in Washington, DC, as assistant to the
Podiatry Clinic’s scheduler. I call 120-150 patients daily to remind them of appointments, arranging transportation where
needed. I understand a lot about those with whom I talk. They
want someone to listen to them, want their calls returned,
and want to be assured they will get quality care. Some of my
conversations are unforgettable.
One was with a patient who had to cancel his appointment
because of prostate surgery that day. I could tell by his voice
that he was really frightened. Since I had the same procedure
several years ago, I shared my experience from biopsy, to the
follow-up visit to the urologist, to my dealing with the changes
in my life. He told me I had made his day and paid me a great
compliment. “Mister, you’re OK.” I treasure that.
Maxwell Hudgins (2nd row, far right) with his VA colleagues.
Another patient asked if she was to have a particular procedure. I told her I didn’t know, as I was “just a volunteer” with no
access to her medical records. She told me never to say “just”
again, telling me how much she appreciated us volunteers and
what a difference we make in the patients’ hospital experience.
Another was with a patient’s wife: “Well good morning, Sugar.
I love your voice. You sound like Bing Crosby.” (I kid you not.)
From North Carolina, she shared with me the TRUE AND ONLY
technique to prepare cabbage, mac and cheese, a red velvet
cake, and you name it! Once we had completed our disquisition on Southern cooking, she told me she would have her
husband there “bright eyed and bushy tailed.” Whereas I had
made the prostate patient’s day, she had made mine.
The VA hospital system has recently endured a lot of bad press;
yet I am working with a dedicated staff that really puts the
patients first. They are kind, compassionate, very knowledgeable, and anticipate the needs of the patients. By establishing
a relationship with Veterans Affairs the Order is really living its
motto “Pro Fide, Pro Utilitate Hominum.”
I also remember a patient as mad as a hornet, or as a minister
friend says, “as mad as a member of the Altar Guild who discovered someone had fiddled with the chalice that had just been
polished.” Wheelchair bound, he had made numerous calls to
find out if special transportation had been scheduled to pick him
up. When I promised to follow up and did so, he was grateful and
totally surprised, as evidently this was not always the case!
Maxwell White Hudgins Jr., PhD, OStJ
With degrees from the University of Virginia, Max Hudgins spent
33 years as an economist in the International Affairs division at
the Treasury Department. He was also an adjunct professor of
international trade theory at The George Washington University.
He recently received an award for 150 hours of SJVC service.
ORDER OF ST JOHN BENEFIT PIANO CONCERT
AND WEEKEND
guests to spend a relaxing weekend enjoy a cultural event in
an excellent acoustical small venue setting, and help the Order
of St John grow. The world-renowned Inn at Little Washington,
rated five stars by the Forbes Travel Guide, will host the postconcert reception. It promises to be a convivial weekend that
will strengthen our ties and support and grow the Order. For
information, contact the Priory office.
Internationally acclaimed pianist Antonio Piricone will give
a benefit concert for the Priory in Washington, Virginia, on
May 14, 2016. Mr. Piricone is one of the world’s young experts
in early keyboard piano performing. The concert is part of a
Country Weekend in the beautiful Shenandoah Mountains. This
membership cultivation gathering will begin with a tour of a
local brewery and will be the perfect chance for Confrères and
The Rev’d Canon John Kilgore, MD, KStJ
Vice-Chancellor, Community
WE MOURN CONFRÈRES RECENTLY DECEASED:
Eric Barry, GCStJ (former Lord Prior)
Joan Blanche Woglom Cupo, OStJ
The Rev’d Derek Ford, SSF, ChStJ
The Most Rev. Samir Kafity, ChStJ
Charles Albert Kibort Jr., OStJ
William Charles Stubing, KStJ
Elizabeth Hopewell Swenson, CStJ
The Hon. Kenneth D. Taylor, OC, CGM, KStJ
Kathleen M. Wiese, DStJ
Please pass along any news of Confrère deaths to the Priory Office.
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Eyes on the Future • Vol. 7, No. 1
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THE ORDER OF ST JOHN
THE BEN MAY CHARITABLE TRUST: A GESTURE OF HOPE
I have been asked to write about my efforts to solicit support
from a foundation community that might not, at first blush,
seem a propitious cohort for support of the Order’s efforts
to bring modern, comprehensive ophthalmological care to a
Palestinian patient base -- to wit, foundations identified with
Jewish benefactors.
vide first world medical services to
a population desperately in need
of them and training to Palestinian
medical professionals in a modern,
western setting.
My Jewish colleagues were
John and Allison Peebles on a
recent visit to Montana.
impressed that we were delivering these services in a highly charged space, recognizing that
support for the Hospital Group is a form of bridge building
difficult for them to engage in directly. The generosity of the
BMCT continues with their 2016 gift of $35,000 to support the
first genetic research unit at the Hospital, adding to the Committee members’ belief that these collaborations also preserve
needed and enduring human-to-human contact.
I sit on the Board of the Ben May Charitable Trust (BMCT),
based in Mobile, Alabama. A native of Alsace, Mr. May came to
America in 1900 as a child and worked for his uncle’s building
supply business in Atlanta. In the wilds of the Tombigbee River
swamp in south Alabama, he learned about the harvesting,
milling and export of timber. He made his initial fortune during
World War I by figuring out how to work around the protective tariffs Britain and France had erected, supplying highquality southern yellow pine to line the thousands of trenches
governments were digging as a critical part of the war effort.
He conceived and implemented many successful projects
in timberland and other areas, applying his venture capital
instincts to the medical field. He left a very substantial estate
and a charitable trust devoted principally to medical research,
the relief of human suffering, and support for Israeli scientific
research institutions.
My impression is that members of the American Jewish community, particularly those who might sit on the boards of
foundations supporting Jewish interests, and/or the state of
Israel, might welcome an opportunity to fund, at one remove,
assistance to the Palestinian population, with whom they are
sympathetic. Alternatively, others may simply value the high
level of interaction and the opportunity to train professionals
within the Israeli template. I am confident these entities will
find our efforts worth supporting and encourage Confrères to
think creatively about other possibilities.
As a member of its Distribution Committee, I introduced the
BMCT to the Order of St John through smaller gifts Committee members can direct to specific charities in which they
may have a personal interest. The larger Board’s interest was
piqued. I shared the story of the Eye Hospital Group, presenting our efforts as those of honest brokers between two
fractious principals: We are neither Jew nor Palestinian, and
we make no observations on their continuing issues. We are
merely there, as we have been for the past 130 years, to pro-
John D. Peebles, OStJ, is a native of Mobile and graduated from
The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He studied at
University College, Oxford, and is a Principal and Senior Consultant
of NAI Mobile, the leading commercial real estate practice in south
Alabama. Married to the beautiful,” long-suffering” (in his own
words) Allison, he has two sons, both recent college graduates.
“ The European Union has just awarded a Partnership for Peace grant (in the region of $700,000) jointly to the St John of Jerusalem Eye
Hospital Group and the world-famous Hadassah University Hospital. This grant recognizes not only SJEHG but also its work with a Jewish
organization in Israel towards achieving highly significant humanitarian and peace-building goals. It also shows that we are leading in
these areas, where interaction between Palestinian and Israeli institutions as well as individuals is now extremely rare. The funding will be
used to carry out vital research into genetically related eye disease in both communities.”
Brigadier Tom Ogilvie-Graham, MBE, OStJ, and CEO of St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group
CONFRÈRE RECOGNITION
Victoria Sheffield, DStJ, was elected in November to be
Vice President of the International Agency for the Prevention
of Blindness, a global consortium of over 125 of the world’s
leading eye care organizations. With 45 years’ international
experience in ophthalmology and blindness prevention, she is
President and CEO of the International Eye Foundation, and a
former Board Member of the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group. Currently serving on the Priory Chapter, Victoria
has received numerous awards and citations, has lived in five
countries on four continents, and has professional experience
in 42 countries of the 102 she has visited. She is married to
Howard Pyle, CStJ, and lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
Bruce E. Spivey, MD, KStJ, has been honored by The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) with the 2015 Laureate
Recognition Award. The AAO says, “Dr. Spivey’s contributions
span the profession from educator, clinician, hospital CEO,
ophthalmology department CEO, and medical society CEO to
transformational professional leader.” Among his many professional accomplishments and awards he was EVP and CEO of
the AAO, and from 2006 through 2014 served as President of
the International Council of Ophthalmology. Bruce Spivey now
devotes much of his energy to developing an Eye Institute
with the Pacific Vision Foundation, an organization he founded
in 1977. He and his wife Amanda, DStJ, reside in San Francisco.
t
THE ORDER OF ST JOHN
7
Eyes on the Future • Vol. 7, No. 1
Priory Officers
®
Palmer Clarkson Hamilton, KStJ
Prior
Douglas Lithgow Paul, KStJ
Chancellor
William Morrison Matthews, KStJ
Vice Chancellor, East
Philip Ernest Bowles III, KStJ
Vice Chancellor, West
1850 M Street, NW, Suite 1070
Washington, DC 20036-5856
The Rev’d Canon John W. Kilgore, MD, KStJ
Vice Chancellor, Community
COL (Ret) D. Gray Heppner Jr., MD, CStJ
Vice Chancellor, St John Volunteer Corps
The Right Rev’d Charles Farmer Duvall, MStJ
Sub-Prelate
Nigel Graham Heath, OStJ
Treasurer
Lorna Jury Gladstone, PhD, OStJ
Secretary
Anne Louise Coleman, MD, PhD, OStJ
Hospitaller
COL (Ret) Howell Crawford Sasser Sr., CStJ
Historiographer and Protocol Advisor
John McConville Shannon, CStJ
Genealogical Advisor
Chapter of the Priory in the USA
Palmer Clarkson Hamilton, Mobile
A. Marshall Acuff Jr., Richmond
Julian Victor Brandt III, Charleston
Anne Louise Coleman, MD, PhD, Santa Monica
Joseph MacDonald Dealey Jr., Dallas
Patricia Staples Horne Dresser, Washington, DC
Jack Martin Enoch Jr., Richmond
Kenneth A. Forde, MD, FACS, New York City
Carolyn S. Goltra, Denver
Lorna Jury Gladstone, PhD, Washington, DC
Kazie Metzger Harvey, New York City
Nigel Graham Heath, San Francisco
Dennis Clair Hensley, Washington, DC
Thomas Morgan Hyers, MD, St. Louis
The Rev’d Canon John W. Kilgore, MD, St. Louis
Brantley C.B. Knowles II, Palm Beach
Karen Miller Lamb, Washington, DC
William Morrison Matthews, Palm Beach
Douglas Lithgow Paul, New York City
Maxey Jerome Roberts, Mobile
Victoria Mary Sheffield, Washington, DC
Priory Staff
Brian Sayers
Executive Director
M. Jean Russell, PhD,
Development Officer
Agnieszka Simmons
Membership Administrator
1850 M Street, NW, Suite 1070
Washington, DC 20036-5856
Tel.: 202-510-9691
Fax: 202-822-0040
ID#: 13-6161455
E-mail: [email protected]
Newsletter Editor
Karen Lamb, CStJ
ABOUT THE ORDER OF ST JOHN
The most Venerable Order of the Hospital
of St John of Jerusalem is a serving Order of
Chivalry under the British Crown. The honor
of membership is bestowed by warrant of its
sovereign head, HM Queen Elizabeth II. The
Grand Prior of the Order is HRH The Duke of
Gloucester, KG, GCVO.
The Priory in the United States of America,
constituted in 1996 by authority of Her
Majesty, is one of the Order’s 11 international
priories. Its primary mission is to support
St John Eye Hospital Group. For over 130
years, the Hospital has provided first-quality
ophthalmic care to hundreds of thousands
of people in the Holy Land, without regard to
gender, race, creed, or ability to pay. Over the
years, the Priory in the USA has raised millions
of dollars to support the Group’s work.
A DOCTOR’S STORY:
HUMAM RISHMAWI
An up close and personal account of daily life
at St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group
was heard recently at the Priory’s headquarters. Dr. Humam Rishmawi, Deputy Medical
Director of the Group visited in early November on his way to the annual meeting of The
American Academy of Opthalmology in Las
Vegas. He and his wife, Samar, were hosted
by Victoria Sheffield, DStJ, and her husband
Howard Pyle, CStJ. In addition to sightseeing
on what was his first visit to Washington, Dr.
Rishmawi also met with area ophthalmic professionals. A lunch was held in the Rishmawis’
honor at Priory Headquarters.
As he describes it, Dr. Rishmawi’s day starts
very early, at 6:15 am. He, Samar and their
four daughters live in Beit Sahour, a village
near Bethlehem. He takes a special transport
bus that facilitates his long morning journey
through several Israeli checkpoints. He then
sees at least 30-40 patients a day. Dr. Rishmawi does two specialty clinics, two operating sessions and one general clinic a week,
and visits Hebron weekly. He is head of the
Hospital’s examining committee, and teaches
and works with Hadassah. Very focused on
his work, he says that even occasional visits
from Samar cannot distract him, as he is there
to maximize time with patients, and fully
explain to them their treatment.
After deciding to become an ophthalmologist, Dr. Rishmawi obtained his medical degree from Dusseldorf University in 1990, with
the ambition of returning to the Hospital in
Jerusalem, which he had known since he was
a child. He began working there and became
its first resident in 1994, eventually obtaining
a Royal College of Surgeons Fellowship in
Humam and Samar Rishmawi in Washington, DC.
Ophthalmology in Edinburgh. His subspeciality is in strabismus and neuropthalmology.
Dr. Rishmawi’s greatest joy is working with
children. “When you get older, you like to be
with children, and when you treat them and
the child can see better, this is your success.”
He is very impressed with changes taking
place in the Hospital in the past few years under the leadership of Brigadier Tom OgilvieGraham, MBE, OStJ. He cites improved
scheduling that cuts down patient waiting
time, and the presence of more subspecialties and clinics to treat difficult eye diseases.
Yet there are still more patients than he can
treat, and major areas where the Hospital
needs financial help in equipment, staffing
and subspecialties such as refractive surgery.
Dr. Rishmawi says he loves his job more now
than when he began. Amid the demands on
his time, the long commute, and the political
situation, he feels a part of something greater
because St John, the only charitable hospital
in the Middle East, will impact its future. “St
John’s is a great hospital — not a good one, a
great one!”
Karen Miller Lamb, CStJ