Sam McVay's heart for others

I had the pleasure of working with and knowing Sam McVay since early 1993 as my administrator at the Missouri Veterans Home and then as the executive director of the Missouri Veterans Commission.

Sam taught me to manage people the way I would want to be managed. He formed a personal relationship with each and every employee, knowing who had family hardships, who had a new baby, who had sadness or happiness occurring in their family. He was able to nurture each employee and had the ability to make each of them -- and me -- feel special.

Sam loved life and loved being part of the Missouri Veterans Home experience. I have never worked for such a wonderful and caring boss before and know I probably never will again. He was passionate about the veteran having the best nursing care we could offer. He pushed for a homelike atmosphere during times when it wasn't the standard.

I learned to view life and nursing care differently under his tutelage. I felt good knowing he was still around, even though he had retired. So many of us will feel his absence. God bless him and his family.

MARIA HANSCHEN, Cape Girardeau