Hospital Red Coat Enjoys Spending Time With People
By Laurie Lechlitner
InkFreeNews
GOSHEN — “I retired in 2001, having spent almost 50 years in the banking industry,” stated Jim Caskey, North Webster. “As a senior citizen I know how important it is to stay active and to be around good, friendly people. That’s part of the reason I’ve spent 19 years as a Red Coat at Goshen Hospital. I find great joy in serving people.”
Caskey began his volunteer position with a little encouragement from his friends. “Some of them were Red Coats at the hospital and they talked me into coming onboard and I love it.”
Each Wednesday Caskey takes the noon to 4 p.m. shift. “Most of my duties involve transporting day surgery patients to their cars after they are discharged. I’m stationed close to the main entrance, so I assist people coming in who have questions. I might also take mail or flowers up to patients’ rooms.”
In his 19 years of serving in that capacity, Caskey hears many positive remarks about the hospital. “Good people work there. I’m not surprised that I hear positive things about a patient’s experience.”
He and his wife, Kay, volunteer together for Meals on Wheels. “We’ve done that for about 10 years. We pick up meals twice a month from the Webster Community Center and take them to residents living in the area.”
Caskey gets a great sense of joy knowing he’s able to brighten a person’s day. “A lot of the people we deliver meals to are homebound. They long for connection. Some of them have very few people to talk to. I think the time we take to chat is just as important to them as the meals we bring.”
The first 10 years of retirement, Jim and Kay traveled. “We’d go to Florida for a month in late spring. Then we’d travel to Michigan on golf trips with friends in the fall. We both enjoy golfing.”
Now the Caskeys are mostly homebodies. “I still play golf. But I enjoy sticking around home doing yardwork, too. Our volunteer responsibilities keep us plenty busy.”
Caskey has fond memories of his years in banking. “I started out at St. Joe Valley Bank in Elkhart as a lender to small businesses. That’s when I developed a passion to see small businesses succeed.” He went on to become the president of both the State Bank of Syracuse and Farmer’s State Bank of Mentone, where he retired.
“I enjoyed working for small community banks because of the relationships we were able to establish with the people. I found great joy watching small businesses succeed and thrive.”
One of the things Caskey looked for in his bank employees was the ability to get along and work with people. “Customers were our No. 1 priority. Tellers and officers needed to have good personalities and sincerely like those coming through the doors.”
Jim is a Syracuse native. Kay grew up in North Webster. Jim has two grown stepchildren (Kay’s children) and one grandson, Tyler, 19. “Tyler was Kay’s golf buddy when he was growing up.” The Caskeys enjoyed following Tyler in his sporting events.
He concluded, “I’d encourage any retired person to volunteer. It’s good to stay active and to be around other people.”