Mercy Medical Center celebrated the official opening of the Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit with a blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by hospital leaders, community supporters, and members of the Yee family. The fifth-floor unit is dedicated to the memory of beloved Western Massachusetts restaurateur and philanthropist Andy Yee and represents a vital, enduring partnership between Mercy, the Yee family, and the local community.
Speakers at the dedication ceremony included Robert Roose, M.D., M.P.H., President of THOfNE Community Hospitals; Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno; Philip Glynn, M.D., Medical Director of Mercy’s Sister Caritas Cancer Center; Sarah Yee, Andy’s widow; and Tony Ravosa, Andy's friend. Their remarks honored Andy’s legacy of kindness and his impact on the community.
“My dad is extraordinary. He always took care of others. He always showed up when it mattered most. And this space here, this unit, embodies that spirit,” said Andy’s daughter, Bella Yee.
Following Andy Yee’s cancer diagnosis, he received care at Mercy’s Sister Caritas Cancer Center, where he and his family built a deep bond with Dr. Glynn and the care team. Deeply moved by the compassionate support they received, Sarah Yee, along with friends, Tony Ravosa and Peter Picknelly, worked with hospital leaders to create a space dedicated to palliative care in Andy’s honor.
Through the generosity of more than 260 donors—including community leaders, local businesses, foundations, families, and individuals—over $1.5 million was raised to bring the unit to fruition. This includes a $250,000 grant from the City of Springfield’s ARPA funds, which supported furnishings for family lounges, sleeper chairs for overnight stays, a nourishment center, and extensive interior designing glasswork to create a warm, supportive, and modern care environment within Mercy. The new unit also created four new full-time nursing positions, along with roles for a chaplain, social worker, and pharmacist, emphasizing Mercy’s ongoing commitment to wrap-around, expert care.
The project was inspired by the care Andy received and is now the only hospital-based palliative care unit in Western, MA focusing on patients with terminal illnesses or chronic conditions for comprehensive pain and symptom management. Services include nursing care, consultations, spiritual support, discharge planning, and social work. All staff working in the unit have received specialized palliative care training to meet the complex emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of patients and families.
“Congratulations to the Mercy Medical team and Yee family on the opening of the cutting-edge Andy Yee Memorial Palliative Care Unit,” said Mayor Sarno. “This unique service will give patients and their families the kind of personalized and dignified care they truly deserve, at a time when they need it most... Andy Yee was kind-hearted, visionary, and believed in doing big things. His legacy of generosity will continue through this space.”
“At Mercy, we are committed to delivering not only medical excellence but also compassion and dignity at every stage of life,” said Dr. Roose. “The Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit sets a new standard for care in Western Massachusetts and is a beautiful tribute to a truly remarkable man.”
We are deeply grateful to the Yee family, our generous donors, and the Mercy Medical Center team whose dedication helped make this vision a reality. The Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit honors a legacy rooted in love, service, and community—and will continue to touch lives for years to come.