Longtime Heywood Hospital employee honored for his service: What the hospital did

An employee is being recognized for his five decades of outstanding service and distinguished commitment to Heywood Hospital.

On Thursday, June 27, Heywood Healthcare officials gathered to honor Ronald LaDeau, who began working at Heywood Hospital in 1970, and to formally name the facility's plant operations center after him.

"Ronnie’s unwavering commitment and unparalleled contributions to Heywood Healthcare have left a lasting legacy," said Rozanna Penney, president and CEO of Heywood Healthcare. "We are honored to celebrate not just his professional achievements but also the integrity, humility, and dedication he has shown throughout his career."

LaDeau, who was promoted to the hospital's chief engineer and plant manager in 1986, said he was honored to be recognized for his service, and admitted that the ceremony brought him to tears.

"Heywood has a place in my heart," said LaDeau. "I have been there day and night for over half a century. Heywood is important to me because Heywood is important to the community. I was very emotional."

LaDeau served in Coast Guard before joining Heywood

LaDeau, who is 77 and was born in Winchendon, served four years in the United States Coast Guard, including a year in Vietnam, before joining Heywood Hospital.

"I was in the power plant onboard a ship and ran 800-pound boilers," he said. "I was just a kid."

While working at the hospital, LaDeau earned his second-class stationary engineer's license while attending classes at night.

During his career, LaDeau played a key role in every installation, maintenance procedure, and upgrade of plant maintenance equipment at the hospital, including the facility's entire heating and air conditioning systems.

"I took care of the physical plant itself," he said. "Its 'a big responsibility - you have to make sure you have the right temperatures and humidity in the surgery department when they're doing surgery."

LaDeau said he often enlisted the help of local businesses to help him do his job and singled out Royal Steam Heater in Gardner for special praise.

"They would come in and fix things that I couldn't fix," he said. "They helped me out tremendously."

LaDeau hopes to be fully retired by the end of the year

In 2014, LaDeau transitioned to a per diem status, gradually easing into semi-retirement while remaining available to provide frequent support to the hospital.

"I'm not retired yet," he said. "I work a few hours a day, helping them out."

But LaDeau said he does plan on entering full retirement soon, possibly by the end of the year. He said he and his wife, Elaine, were looking forward to spending more time with their daughter and grandson, who live in New Hampshire.

But LaDeau said he will end his career confident that he was leaving the hospital in good hands.

"I've been breaking people in up there," he said.