Full Circle: A Legacy Gift to the Place that Started It All
For Connie and Steve Delehanty, Montefiore Einstein is more than a former workplace—it’s where their careers flourished, their love story began, and their lifelong bond with a mission-driven organization took root.
Steve, a Vietnam veteran, arrived at Montefiore Einstein in 1969 as a job analyst. “I needed a job, and Montefiore Einstein had one,” he recalls with a smile. Over the years, he rose to become Director of Employee Relations. Connie, a certified lab technologist and blood bank specialist, joined in 1973, and, as a lab supervisor, played a key role in computerizing the blood bank before transitioning to IT. The two met through work; Steve was a regular blood donor and noticed Connie when she came through the donor area for coffee. Their official introduction would come during an HR training session Steve led.
Montefiore Einstein soon became central to their shared life. “We initially lived in the Montefiore Einstein apartments, later commuted together, and built a routine that worked,” Steve says. “It felt like a family,” Connie adds. “We had baby showers, Bagel Fridays, even talent shows. Everyone looked out for each other.”
Beyond the fraternity that the couple felt with their respective colleagues, they stayed for 30-plus years because, as they say, what they did truly mattered. “The sense that we were contributing to something bigger gave meaning to our work,” reflects Steve.
Now retired, the couple continues to stay connected to their passions—Connie volunteers in the archives at Montefiore Einstein and the New York Philharmonic; Steve, a barbershop harmony enthusiast, composes, arranges, sings, and judges four-part a cappella music. They regularly attend classical music concerts at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.
After 9/11, they decided to update their will—and include Montefiore Einstein in their planned giving. “We have no children,” Steve explains. “So, we wanted to give to the places that shaped our lives.” Connie agrees: “Without Montefiore Einstein, we wouldn’t have met. We wouldn’t have the retirement we do. It just made sense.”
Their hope? That their gift helps Montefiore Einstein continue its mission. “It’s about the common good,” says Steve. “And the community and innovation,” adds Connie. “Working in the archives, I’ve learned so much about Montefiore Einstein’s history. I want that to continue. That’s what we want to support.”
Their story is a testament to how meaningful a legacy can be—especially when it comes full circle.
