Debt to Payne

March 28, 2012

Re “Jewish leaders recall Payne’s work on Darfur,” March 7

As past president of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, I shall ever be indebted to Donald Payne, who came to The Beth’s rescue as we sought permission from the Newark City Council to construct a much needed garage.

I vividly recall his standing with me shoulder to shoulder as we faced a group of upset neighbors who saw such construction as lowering the value of their homes. Donald Payne gently and effectively diffused the atmosphere by stating “for an airport to be successful it needs sufficient parking and for a hospital to be successful it needs not only to have parking for visitors and patients but also to attract a high quality of  doctors and nurses.”

We will miss him.

Lester M. Bornstein
former president
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center