My name is Scott McNair, and I lead the engineering department at Providence Health Plan. One of our own passed away unexpectedly after supporting the Providence mission for 23 years to serve all, especially the poor and vulnerable. Joe was a good man. It’s that simple. He served as a marine in Vietnam, he has more cards in his home than we can easily count from charities he gave to, he carried gift cards in his wallet so he wouldn’t miss an opportunity to help another person, and he had the leftovers from his wedding packaged into meal boxes so he and his wife Allyson could hand them out to the homeless on their wedding night.

His wife Allyson was his world. He worked a decade past his regular retirement age to provide the best health benefits he could for her. She was just recently diagnosed as being in remission from cancer, and shortly afterward, Joe was unexpectedly hospitalized. While he was incapacitated in intensive care with Allyson by his side, a deadline was missed that caused his life insurance to be reduced by 45%. He passed away just three days later without knowing this.

Joe demonstrated to all who know him, including his teammates at work, that he cared for others and sought opportunities to help those he didn’t know. He also demonstrated how important Allyson was to him, and he would be devasted to know that her financial security and future were compromised when he was unable to act.

Allyson has short-term financial needs as well as medical debt. The insurance was reduced by $27,000. Joe always helped others. Please help Allyson, who meant so much to him!