Gary and Rhonda Didado: “Giving is a gift and a blessing”

This story originally appeared in the Fall 2023 edition of Promise magazine.

Giving back to Summa Health is a way of life for Gary and Rhonda Didado. As devoted friends of the health system they call “their hometown hospital,” this philanthropic couple has had a tremendous impact on patient care for many years.

The Didados have provided significant support for the Summa Health Sapphire Ball and the annual Golf Outing. They also have generously supported hospice care, addiction fellowship, Summa Screens and women’s resources, and now, the Summa Health Neuroscience Institute.

The couple’s long history of giving back to Summa Health started in 2003 while Gary was president of J.W. Didado Electric, a company started by his late father, John, in 1958. What began as a one man-crew has grown to 1,000 employees nationwide, and where helping others is more than just doing business.

“My mother and father always gave even when they didn’t have anything to give,” said Gary. “My dad would give you the shirt off his back.”

Gary and Rhonda, both retired from J.W. Didado Electric, share the same beliefs when it comes to helping others. “Giving is a gift and a blessing,” said Rhonda. “We know it’s going to come full circle. We give back, and it enables us to give more,” added Gary.

Their most recent generosity supports the work of Dr. Susana Bowling, medical director of the Summa Health Neuroscience Institute, and advancements in leading-edge, lifesaving patient care. Among those patients was Gary’s father who was treated for a stroke in 2010. This was the first time that Gary and Rhonda were introduced to Dr. Bowling.

“It was a very difficult time for our family, but Dr. Bowling being there really helped us through it. We felt confident that we were in the right place,” said Gary.

Their paths would cross again as Rhonda’s friend, Terri Weigand, who is a nurse in the stroke registrar’s office, coincidentally works with Dr. Bowling.

“I loved listening to the excitement in Terri’s voice when she talked about the growth of the Neuroscience Institute and all of the great things happening there,” said Rhonda. “It was like a light bulb coming on for me.”

Gary and Rhonda then reconnected with Dr. Bowling, who shared with the couple the impact of their generosity. “Dr. Bowling said to us, ‘What you are doing is going to save lives.’ After hearing that, we knew we were making the right decision to support the Neuroscience Institute.”

When Gary and Rhonda support a good cause, they go all out. As honorary chairs and a Ruby sponsor of the 2023 Sapphire Ball, they helped inspire support for the Neuroscience Institute and other clinical programs. “Summa Health is number one in Ohio for neurosciences and number two for stroke care. We are honored to help raise awareness of these life-saving programs,” he said.

To support the Summa Health Neuroscience Institute, contact Nancy McCann at 330.375.7485 or mccannn@summahealth.org.