Frank and Risa De Quatro, RN

Investing in the future of health.

For Frank and Risa De Quatro, RN, giving back is about preserving quality care for the next generation. The couple recently made the decision to include Huntington Hospital in their living trust, qualifying them for membership in our Legacy Gift Society (LGS). LGS is a group of philanthropic donors whose estate-related gifts support the hospital. “We wanted to designate a portion of our estate to the hospital in order to invest in the future of health for our community,” says Risa.

Risa started her career as a nurse at Huntington. That is in part why she and Frank have chosen to designate their bequest towards nursing education here. Through our nursing education program, we provide scholarships to nurses to cover continuing-education expenses, help our nurses prepare for advanced specialty-care certification, offer simulation training activities and more. The De Quatros’ gift will help ensure nurses continue to have access to advanced education and training opportunities, so they can provide the very best of care to all patients in our region.

I received so much from Huntington,” says Risa. “Knowing that Frank and I can take what we worked so hard for and turn around and do something for the future of the hospital is very rewarding.

Leaving a legacy for nurses.

Risa’s initial introduction to Huntington Hospital came 39 years ago when she started exploring options about where to work. “When I heard about Huntington, I decided to take a tour of the hospital,” Risa says. “I knew right away that I wanted to work there.”

She started off in our medical-surgical units, before moving on to several other areas of the hospital. Ultimately, Risa became a member of the nursing team in our perioperative health center. At the center, patients undergo screenings, blood tests, electrocardiograms and more, prior to surgery.

Risa notes she is particularly appreciative of the special training she got as a nurse here over the years. “It was invaluable — and it’s not something that’s offered at every hospital,” she says. It is part of what makes Huntington special, she notes. “To be able to help guarantee that these educational opportunities will exist for future nurses feels incredible.”

Giving and receiving.

Although Risa loved her time as a nurse here, in 2021 she decided it was time to retire. It soon became clear, though, that she could not quite stay away — and in 2022 she returned to our perioperative health center as a volunteer. “I decided to volunteer because I wanted to give back,” she says. “I think it’s important to show that you appreciate the institutions that helped you succeed.”

Risa believes strongly in the quality of care of her former employer. It is why she and her family chose Huntington for their own care, again and again. When Frank had a heart attack, the De Quatros turned to us. When he needed treatment for kidney cancer, again, Huntington was the obvious choice.

“Despite living in Covina, we came all the way to Huntington because we wanted him to get the best possible care,” explains Risa. The couple’s late son, Anthony, also received care here after he was diagnosed with cancer. “The nurses who cared for Anthony made us feel like they were part of our family,” she adds.

This sense of belonging is part of why the De Quatros chose to support our work. “Huntington Hospital is more than just a health care provider,” Risa adds. “Even though it’s a large institution, it really has a community feel, which isn’t the case for all hospitals. We wanted to recognize that with a gift that will make a difference for future generations of patients who turn to Huntington for care.”

To find out more about how you can make a planned gift to Huntington Hospital, please contact Helen Bechtolt, senior director of principal gifts, at helen.bechtolt@huntingtonhospital.com or (626) 397-8681. We also encourage you to visit https://huntingtonhealth.org/giftplanning to learn more.