July 3, 2003

Kathryn Grant Crosby, accomplished performer, author, artist, nurse, teacher and golf-tournament hostess, visited St. Camillus for over an hour on June 12. Crosby was in Syracuse for the day as part of her upstate New York tour promoting her recently published book, “My Last Years with Bing.” The book is a companion volume to her 1983 book, “My Life with Bing.”

Crosby was married to world-famous entertainer and superstar Bing Crosby for 20 years until his death in 1977.

During the visit many St. Camillus residents, patients, staff and visitors met Crosby. She spoke with many among the crowd that had gathered, and told stories about Bing. She also read aloud excerpts from her new book. Crosby, a registered nurse who earned her degree from Queen of Angels School of Nursing in Los Angeles, then briefly toured one of St. Camillus’ nursing units and chatted with some of the residents and nursing staff.

	Kathryn Crosby (left), meets St. Camillus B-Unit resident, Florence F., as unit-dining coordinator, Nancy Miller, looks on. Crosby was warmly received as she met with facility residents and staff during her brief visit to the nursing unit.

“I think [Kathryn Crosby] was wonderful and it was a pleasure to meet her,” said resident Florence F.

Tammy Pangaro, LPN and recent graduate of St. Camillus’ LPN training school, spoke with Crosby about the school, the nursing profession and Crosby’s career as an RN.

“She was very pleasant and personable,” said Pangaro of Crosby. “She told me that being an RN helped her in life—both in everyday situations and in acting. The way she interacted with the residents, you could tell that her heart was truly in it.”

Crosby was impressed when Pangaro told her that St. Camillus pays the tuition for its LPN school students. Crosby said that she didn’t have the opportunity to attend nursing school tuition free, and family obligations caused her to attend part time.

“It took me longer to graduate [from nursing school] because I kept getting pregnant,” said Crosby.

Crosby’s connection to St. Camillus began last fall. Tom Honan, St. Camillus Foundation president, met her on Long Island and gave her a St. Camillus Foundation “High Hopes” fundraising CD. Released in 2002, the CD features 11 songs written by legendary songwriter and Syracuse native, Jimmy Van Heusen, and performed by Central New York musicians. One track on the CD, “Swingin’ on a Star,” was made famous by Bing Crosby. Honan was delighted Crosby had accepted his invitation to visit St. Camillus so she could see the facility that revived one of Bing’s hits and many of Van Heusen’s timeless classics. The vocalist who performed “Swingin’ on a Star” on the “High Hopes” CD, Maria DeSantis of the Mario DeSantis Orchestra, stopped by St. Camillus during Crosby’s visit. DeSantis was pleased to have met her.

“Thank you for welcoming me to your wonderful facility,” said Crosby as she left St. Camillus. “I am so very pleased to have come here and to have met everyone.”