Retired Hoag physician Fritz Westerhout, M.D., clearly remembers his first date with wife Elaine. A native Southern Californian, he was a third-year medical student at Loma Linda University when he and Elaine were set up by friends. Elaine remembers her father opening the door and giving the future physician the once over. They married in 1958 and soon became the proud, busy parents of three boys, one of which was born at Hoag. They are proud that seven out of their nine grandchildren were also Hoag babies.
When Dr. Westerhout joined the staff at Hoag in 1964, he and Elaine left Los Angeles for a then small community that passionately supported its hospital. "When we arrived, the emergency room was housed in two trailers," he remembers.
Dr. Westerhout joined the 552 Club and became the first physician to serve as president of the long-standing group. He and Elaine served as chairs of the Christmas Carol Ball in 1974. Fritz was president of the medical staff from 1990 to 1991 and served three terms on Hoag's Board of Directors. Meanwhile, Elaine was busy with their active boys while dedicating time to the music ministry at her church. Both have been active in supporting the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Fritz served as its president from 1995-96.
Healing Around the World
In 2000, Dr. Westerhout retired from Hoag, but he continued to practice medicine on mission trips to Africa with Elaine at his side.
Elaine, who was born in a missionary community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, felt that each of their four mission trips to Africa was a homecoming. She explored beyond the hospital compound to meet the local villagers and was often invited into their homes, a privilege and honor that she feels to this day.
During one of their missions, she had the opportunity to observe her husband at work. After 60 years of marriage, she had never seen this side of him. "I was in awe of what he was able to do," she says, putting a smile on his face.
A Part of Something Special
Dr. Westerhout and Elaine know firsthand the value of community support. So it's no surprise that they, like many retired and active Hoag physician families, are among Hoag's most dedicated donors. Through their charitable bequest and many years of giving and volunteering, they are happy to give back to the community treasure that has been here for them, their children and their grandchildren.
The Westerhouts are grateful for the many years they have been able to have a part in making Hoag the significant organization it is today.
