February 21, 2003

A 12-year MGH employee, Ricardo Diaz (below) of the MGH Buildings and Grounds Department, died Feb. 18 in a tragic accident while plowing snow from the sidewalks around the hospital.

A native of El Salvador, Diaz, 39, came to the United States in the 1980s, working two part-time jobs in the Boston area to support his family until he came to the MGH in May 1991. His first position at the hospital was in Environmental Services, where he was promoted twice before accepting another promotion and transferring to Buildings and Grounds to take a position as an auto mechanic.

Gary Butler, his supervisor in Buildings and Grounds, called Diaz a truly dedicated and hard-working member of the team who came in around 10 am on the first day of the blizzard to help with snow removal. Even though it was his day off, Diaz joined 18 of his colleagues in the arduous task of clearing the sidewalks and paths around the main campus. "That's the kind of guy he was; he did everything to the fullest," says Butler. "Ricardo was always right out there, asking what he could do and helping out in whatever way he could. Everything that Ricardo did, he did with that extra little bit. He never asked, he just did. And he gave it his all."

According to Greg Doyle, director of MGH Buildings and Grounds, Diaz was enormously well liked and well respected by everyone who knew him or worked with him. "Ricardo was a wonderful guy who worked hard to make a better life for himself and his family," says Doyle. "He was an incredible employee, and we will miss him a lot."

Diaz leaves his wife, Rafaela, and three brothers, a sister and their families — all from the Boston area — and his mother, daughter and granddaughter in El Salvador. Those who wish to send a card to the Diaz family should direct it to the attention of Greg Doyle, Buildings and Grounds, Gray Basement 00-0017.