Occupational Therapist

A silent auction will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 23 to benefit the family of Brian Rafkin, 8, who at birth suffered oxygen deprivation and is in need of an occupational therapist.The family needs $50,000 to pay for the therapist to come to the Rafkins' home. The money is needed by June.Donations are needed for the auction. Trips, home-cooked meals, weekend recreation vehicle donation, a boom box, a small black-and-white television and children's items have been donated.The silent auction will take place at the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department Hall, 6275 Old Washington Road, Elkridge.

I am an occupational therapy student at Towson University, and I wanted to express my opinion concerning Kevin Rector's article, "Hospitals join to find beds for mental patients" (Feb. 19). Throughout the article, I saw reference to health professionals including nurses, social workers, and psychiatrists. However, I didn't see mention of occupational therapists. I don't know if you are aware that occupational therapists play a significant role in the treatment of patients admitted to psychiatric facilities.

Reba M.W. Gershman, a retired occupational therapist, died of kidney failure Saturday at her Columbia home. She was 71. Reba Mary Wright was born and raised in Oak Park, Ill., and earned her bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from the University of Illinois in 1958. She began her career that year as a therapist with the Navy Medical Corps in Norfolk, Va., and later worked at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington. In the mid-1960s, she joined the staff of Spring Grove State Hospital and in 1969 began working at the state hospital at Crownsville.

When an occupational therapist walked through the home of 70-year-old Carol Glover two years ago, she immediately noticed safety hazards. Scatter rugs throughout the single-family home in Ednor Gardens left Glover, who has balance problems, vulnerable to tripping. She held onto the wall when she washed her feet in the bathtub, also leaving her open to slipping and falling. And because there was no ramp in her front yard, Glover dragged her walker up a grassy hill. But, thanks to a Johns Hopkins School of Nursing program, contractors fixed the hazards and Glover's home is now a safer place.

Doris Phipps Dollenberg, a lifelong Towson resident and former occupational therapist at Children's Hospital, died Thursday of complications from pneumonia at her home at Pickersgill Retirement Community in Towson. She was 90. The youngest of six children, she graduated from Towson High School in 1931 and later received a certificate in occupational therapy. She worked as a therapist at Women's Hospital and Children's Hospital from 1933 to 1937. She returned to Children's Hospital in 1957 to head the facility's occupational therapy department, a position she held for 10 years.

Caroline Ardissone used to put on her shoes and stockings without a struggle, but when the 80-year-old Columbia resident suffered a stroke 1 1/2 years ago, that simple task became an obstacle.Today, thanks to a long rod with a hook on the end of it, known as a "dressing stick," Mrs. Ardissone has mastered putting on her shoes and stockings by herself.She also uses a "reacher," a long rod with suction cups, to grasp objects; a "walker bag," which holds mail and other objects and frees up Mrs. Ardissone's hands to maneuver a walker; and a memory log book that she uses to write down things she needs to remember from day to day.Before her stroke, Mrs. Ardissone had not known so many helpful items existed; her occupational therapist recommended them.

Linda Schuberth, a senior occupational therapist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute who helped children overcome swallowing and feeding issues, died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, March 5 at her Homeland home. She was 56 years old. Linda Miller was born in Hazelton, Pa. She earned a bachelor's degree from Temple University and a master's degree from New York University. She was the director of occupational therapy at White Haven Center in White Haven, Pa., and at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. She later held a similar post at United Cerebral Palsy in New York City.

When an occupational therapist walked through the home of 70-year-old Carol Glover two years ago, she immediately noticed safety hazards. Scatter rugs throughout the single-family home in Ednor Gardens left Glover, who has balance problems, vulnerable to tripping. She held onto the wall when she washed her feet in the bathtub, also leaving her open to slipping and falling. And because there was no ramp in her front yard, Glover dragged her walker up a grassy hill. But, thanks to a Johns Hopkins School of Nursing program, contractors fixed the hazards and Glover's home is now a safer place.

Helen Gundry Vauthier, a homemaker and former occupational therapist, died of heart failure Tuesday at Kensington-Algonquin, an assisted living community in Cumberland. She was 88. She was born and raised Helen Gundry on her family's farm on Frederick Road in Catonsville. Her father, Dr. Alfred T. Gundry Jr., a psychiatrist, established Gundry Sanitarium, a private family-operated psychiatric hospital, on the grounds of the farm in 1898. It closed in 1990. Mrs. Vauthier was a graduate of the Roberts-Beach School for Girls in Catonsville and attended Maryland Institute College of Art. She worked as an occupational therapist at the sanitarium until marrying in 1946.

Name: Keisha Green, 15, of Glen BurnieAccomplishments: Keisha is in the ninth grade at Glen Burnie Senior High School. She plans to try for positions both as a cheerleader and on the track team this fall.She is active in the Junior Volunteer Program of North Arundel Hospital, where she helps to keep up patient morale by sharing magazines and other items, and offering a friendly ear when needed.Keisha represents the ninth grade on the Student Government Association, where her duties include reporting the concerns of fellow students to the SGA, and informing the students of the SGA's decisions.

Linda Schuberth, a senior occupational therapist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute who helped children overcome swallowing and feeding issues, died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, March 5 at her Homeland home. She was 56 years old. Linda Miller was born in Hazelton, Pa. She earned a bachelor's degree from Temple University and a master's degree from New York University. She was the director of occupational therapy at White Haven Center in White Haven, Pa., and at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. She later held a similar post at United Cerebral Palsy in New York City.

Forty physical and occupational therapists who came to the United States through a visa program to work in 15 states, including Maryland, were awarded a total of $134,000 in back pay in a U.S. Labor Department case, the department announced in a statement Monday. Labor Department investigators found that Jackson Therapy Partners, of Orlando, Fla., failed to pay the workers the required wages for the period between their arrival in the country and their reporting to work. The workers came to the United States from the Philippines under the H-1B visa program.

Reba M.W. Gershman, a retired occupational therapist, died of kidney failure Saturday at her Columbia home. She was 71. Reba Mary Wright was born and raised in Oak Park, Ill., and earned her bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from the University of Illinois in 1958. She began her career that year as a therapist with the Navy Medical Corps in Norfolk, Va., and later worked at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington. In the mid-1960s, she joined the staff of Spring Grove State Hospital and in 1969 began working at the state hospital at Crownsville.

Douglas Russell Williams, a retired occupational therapist and Boy Scout leader, died of complications from a stroke March 12 at the Presbyterian Home of Maryland in Towson. He was 96. Mr. Williams was born and raised in the city's Howard Park neighborhood. He left school to help support his family and later earned a General Educational Development diploma. During World War II, he was a deck-fitting foreman at Bethlehem Steel Corp's Fairfield shipyard. Mr. Williams, who had lived in Towson and Washington, had worked as an occupational therapist at St. Elizabeths Hospital in the District of Columbia for more than 15 years before retiring in the early 1970s.

Wilma L. Lindsay, a homemaker and volunteer occupational therapist, died of Alzheimer's disease complications Sunday at Holly Hill Nursing Home in Towson. A resident of the Pinehurst section of Baltimore County, she was 97. Born Wilma Luden in Reading, Pa., she was the daughter of William H. Luden, founder of Luden Cough Drop Co. She earned a degree at the Maryland Institute College of Art. In the late 1930s, Mrs. Lindsay was the co-owner of the Wil-Mar Craft Shop, a knitting and craft business at Franklin and Cathedral streets in downtown Baltimore.

Doris Phipps Dollenberg, a lifelong Towson resident and former occupational therapist at Children's Hospital, died Thursday of complications from pneumonia at her home at Pickersgill Retirement Community in Towson. She was 90. The youngest of six children, she graduated from Towson High School in 1931 and later received a certificate in occupational therapy. She worked as a therapist at Women's Hospital and Children's Hospital from 1933 to 1937. She returned to Children's Hospital in 1957 to head the facility's occupational therapy department, a position she held for 10 years.

Wilma L. Lindsay, a homemaker and volunteer occupational therapist, died of Alzheimer's disease complications Sunday at Holly Hill Nursing Home in Towson. A resident of the Pinehurst section of Baltimore County, she was 97. Born Wilma Luden in Reading, Pa., she was the daughter of William H. Luden, founder of Luden Cough Drop Co. She earned a degree at the Maryland Institute College of Art. In the late 1930s, Mrs. Lindsay was the co-owner of the Wil-Mar Craft Shop, a knitting and craft business at Franklin and Cathedral streets in downtown Baltimore.

Helen Gundry Vauthier, a homemaker and former occupational therapist, died of heart failure Tuesday at Kensington-Algonquin, an assisted living community in Cumberland. She was 88. She was born and raised Helen Gundry on her family's farm on Frederick Road in Catonsville. Her father, Dr. Alfred T. Gundry Jr., a psychiatrist, established Gundry Sanitarium, a private family-operated psychiatric hospital, on the grounds of the farm in 1898. It closed in 1990. Mrs. Vauthier was a graduate of the Roberts-Beach School for Girls in Catonsville and attended Maryland Institute College of Art. She worked as an occupational therapist at the sanitarium until marrying in 1946.