LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION paying tribute to the life and accomplishments of
Dr. Martha MacGuffie, distinguished citizen and devoted member of her
community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Martha MacGuffie of New City, New York, died on Monday,
March 7, 2011, at the age of 87; and
WHEREAS, Affectionately known as Bobby, Dr. Martha MacGuffie distin-
guished herself in her profession and by her sincere dedication and
substantial contribution to the welfare of her community; and
WHEREAS, The first female reconstructive surgeon to graduate from
Columbia Medical School, Dr. Martha MacGuffie treated thousands of local
residents in Rockland County and gained a reputation as a compassionate
physician who would never turn a patient away; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Martha MacGuffie helped establish the burn unit at Nyack
Hospital; her medical advancements included developing a waterbed that
eased the notorious pain suffered by burn patients; she was a familiar
sight at accident scenes, stopping to help first responders treat injury
victims; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Martha MacGuffie's commitment to excellence, and her
spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, includ-
ing charitable and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, A frequent visitor to local schools, Dr. MacGuffie often
spoke to groups of young people, encouraging them to get involved and
make a difference in the world; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Martha MacGuffie's legacy reaches far beyond the Lower
Hudson Valley to Africa where she ventured during the heart of the AIDS
epidemic in the 1980s in an effort to discover more about the disease;
and
WHEREAS, In 1987, this remarkable surgeon founded the Society for
Hospital and Resources Exchange (SHARE); this nonprofit organization
helped to establish an orphanage, clinics, and a hospital in Kenya, as
well as trained local medical providers; furthermore, SHARE created a
women's empowerment project; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Martha MacGuffie also volunteered with AmeriCares in
Rwanda in 1994, when a campaign of genocide decimated the country; she
started performing surgery in the clinics set up there, and was credited
with saving countless lives during her mission; and
WHEREAS, After more than 50 years of practicing medicine and her
retirement in 2008, Dr. Martha MacGuffie made regular trips to Kenya to
check on the progress of the institutions she founded and the people she
came to love; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit, imbued with a sense of
compassion, and comforted by a loving family, Dr. Martha MacGuffie
leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and
will remain as a comforting memory to all she served and befriended;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martha MacGuffie, distin-
guished citizen and devoted member of her community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Dr. Martha MacGuffie and to SHARE.