AARC Member Dies in Violent Home Invasion

April 3, 2008

	Mary Ellen Welsh

A senseless act of violence has claimed the life of an AARC member in Connecticut.

Mary Ellen Welsh of New Britain, CT, a long-time respiratory therapist and member of the AARC, was visiting a friend and having a cup of coffee last Sunday morning when a home invader shot her friend and kidnapped Welsh. Her body was later discovered in a gravel pit. Her friend is expected to survive.

“A tragedy like this cuts through our AARC family,” said Sam Giordano, AARC’s executive director. “At times like these we realize that there is a connection among us all.”

AARC was alerted to the news by a former co-worker of Welsh’s. Welsh had worked with Donald Egan in the early days of her practice in Connecticut. She was a long-time employee at New Britain General Hospital and has most recently worked at the Hospital for Special Care, also in New Britain. In addition, she had worked for the late former editor of RESPIRATORY CARE journal, Phil Kittredge, when he was a director at the hospital there. She had been undergoing treatment for cancer.

News stories indicate that a suspect was caught and in custody. You can read more about this terrible tragedy on local news sites.

AARC will be making a donation to the education fund established in her name at the Foundation for Special Care. Obituary information noted that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mary Ellen Welsh Respiratory Education Fund c/o The Foundation for Special Care 2150 Corbin Avenue New Britain, CT 06053 or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.