Moreover, the two largest hospital systems control approximately two thirds of the entire health care market in the state. Not long ago, Connecticut had 27 independent community focused hospitals now six remain.

However, many of our residents are not aware of the critical role the state’s sole publicly owned health system plays by providing high quality care to all of Connecticut’s residents, regardless of whether a service is “profitable” or whether the patient is able to pay. In addition, UConn Health’s patient safety and patient experience grades are the highest of any health care system in the state. Seventy percent of our medical school graduates practice here in Connecticut and more than 50% of the state’s dentists are UConn alumni. We are the largest source of new physicians, surgeons, and dentists for our home state. Nonetheless, it saddens me, and surely you as well.UConn Health’s core value to Connecticut residents is well known. I ask all of you reading this: What’s your list of things gone? And is my experience unique, or are things closing quicker than they used to? I’m sure that’s something impossible to measure. My wife and I went there on our first date. I recall at Niko’s a framed photo from Sports Illustrated of the incredible late ’70s Pitt offensive line (which included future NFL Hall of Famers) eating gyros at Niko’s.Īs for The Decade, it was said that Bruce Springsteen would visit there before he was the Springsteen of history. These places themselves carried such memories. I have not gone to a Pitt football game since. When the decision was made to raze Pitt Stadium, and the wrecking ball came so swiftly, we were aghast. Or Pitt Stadium.Īnd yes, even Pitt Stadium is gone.

It was almost as much of a Pitt landmark as The Cathedral of Learning. If we had to place bets in the 1980s on which local spot would survive the longest, it would have been The O, hands down.īut sadly, even The O closed. As to the latter, few items from these parts were as famous as O fries. “They were nice guys,” she recalls fondly.īut alas, what they founded is ending - on Sunday.įor me, I now add Dave & Andy’s to memories like The Decade, Niko’s Gyros, Winner’s Restaurant, Gus Miller’s Newsstand, the Electric Banana and, of course, “The O” - The Original Hot Dog Shop. She knew both Dave and Andy, recalling where they came from, how they honed their craft and more. Susan, of course, laments the news of Dave & Andy’s shuttering. She didn’t hesitate: “Chocolate milkshake, with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup.” I asked her while writing this column if she remembered Starzl’s order. He daily strolled inside and winked at Susan behind the counter, and she would grab his regular. Thomas Starzl, who pioneered organ transplantation at UPMC, was a Dave & Andy’s addict. If I got lucky, the long line fizzled and I could steal a smooch from Susan on my lap on a milk can in the storage room.ĭave & Andy’s was popular to all comers, whether students or working professionals. I have fond memories of walking in, seeing Susan’s perky, pretty face and ordering cookies & cream in a warm waffle cone (with M&M’s at the bottom). My girlfriend at Pitt - now my wife - worked there starting in 1987. I have the sweetest (pun intended) memories of Dave & Andy’s. I was reminded of that yet again when reading in the Trib that the popular ice cream shop, Dave & Andy’s, is shutting down after four decades of fabulous homemade ice cream. The things already gone - many of them iconic - are rather stunning. In my case, I’m 57, and the places I have in mind in this column are favorite haunts from the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, namely, the Pitt campus, and only about 30 years ago. I do wonder if that’s unique to my experience, or if perhaps things generally in our chaotic, throwaway culture (to borrow a term from Pope Francis) are closing sooner than they used to. Increasingly nowadays, I’m surprised at how often I’m doing that, and just how many places are disappearing. Remember as a kid listening to old people reminisce about this or that thing that isn’t there anymore? You figured you’d probably be doing the same someday.

Daily independent tribune obituary