Published March 2021
Through service and philanthropy, our supportive community is a key ingredient in the unique culture of Chester County Hospital. The late Nicholas P. Trainer exemplified what it means to be engaged in the success of the hospital. A local business leader at Sartomer Chemical Company, and Pennsylvania native, Mr. Trainer began serving as a board member at Chester County Hospital in 1987. His service spanned twenty years and three boards: Turk’s Head Health Services, Inc., The Chester County Hospital Foundation, and Professional Providers, Inc (PPI). During his board tenure he served as Chairman of PPI from 2002-2007.
In his hospital board roles, Mr. Trainer spent many years working closely with several senior administrators at Chester County Hospital, both past and present. Former Chester County Hospital President, H. L. Perry Pepper, reflected on Mr. Trainer's contributions, "Nick was involved at the hospital during a time of major changes in health care. The subsidiaries, which his board service helped guide, were created so Chester County Hospital could compete in the health care market place and broaden our impact in the local business community. Nick was a great steward of our hospital."
Mary Thomson Brauman, former Senior Vice President for Corporate Development at Chester County Hospital, fondly remembers Mr. Trainer for his pleasant, yet professional, demeanor. "He had the right tone to communicate effectively paired with the ability to relieve stress when things got tense. Nick always had a sparkle in his eye and an appropriate quip on hand to lighten things up. He was an incredible leader and a pleasure to work with."
Richard Donze, DO, MPH, current Hospital Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Medical Director of the Hospital's Occupational Health Center (OHC) remembers Mr. Trainer as a highly engaged member of the community. "Through his individual efforts as a Hospital board member whose company was a loyal OHC supporter, Nick truly plumbed the depths of everything we do at Chester County Hospital, and he became deeply involved in helping us fulfill our mission to the community. He had a very high level view of so many aspects of our mission...as a board member he helped steer them; as a local business leader he was a consumer of them. He was all-in."
In addition to the impact of his stewardship and service, Mr. Trainer's legacy was also reflected in his philanthropy. During his life, Nick was a regular donor to the hospital and also directed support to the hospital from Sartomer. After his passing in 2020, the hospital received a generous financial gift from his estate, further supporting the hospital's mission that Mr. Trainer had championed. Through his gift, Mr. Trainer joins a special group of community members who have supported The Chester County Hospital Foundation with a bequest. Through planned giving, and therefore membership into our 1892 Society, individuals can make a promise to continue to support the exceptional level of compassionate patient care in our community -- providing life-saving treatment, state-of-the-art facilities and access to renowned medical experts. We are grateful to Nick Trainer for his thoughtful and lasting legacy at Chester County Hospital.