presencebuilders

By Richard F. Denno Tina Turner, known as the ‘Queen of Rock & Roll’, is one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time; selling over 200 million records worldwide to date. Her renditions of ‘Proud Mary’, ‘What Ever You Want’, ‘Private Dancer’ and ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It,’ are songs we have […]

By Richard F. Denno The above emotional quote is mentioned at many Masonic Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness Program presentations. The story behind it is both powerful and moving.   One morning in 2009, my beautiful bride, Midge and I were having a delicious breakfast at Lottie’s Country Kitchen in Glastonbury. The Finocciaro family, Marsha

By Richard F. Denno Don’t you want to be remembered when you’re gone? Dating back to the Egyptian Pharaohs and Roman Emperors, people have sought ways of being immortalized forever. In the beginning, statues were erected, and colossal monuments and buildings were constructed in their memory. Then came portraits, such as our Presidents and other

Organ donation saves lives. Each year, over 39,000 people receive life-saving transplants and over 1.5 million others are healed by the gift of tissue donation. While many do receive, 22 people die each day because of the shortage of organs for transplant. It is important for all people to consider being an organ and tissue

By Richard F. Denno Most of us realize the need to register as Organ Donors. Over the months and years, we have read or heard organ donation stories; both successful or unfortunate surrounding the lives of our family, friends and loved ones. Each month, your Masonic Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Program has worked to

Ever wonder what it’s like to have a life changing experience? Just ask an organ recipient. Lou Schluntz found out first hand on July 21,2020 around 8pm with 3 phone calls from doctors at the Heart Institute from Hartford Hospital, That night by midnight he was admitted to the Cardiac-Thoracic ICU for a long anticipated

By Richard F. Denno Note: Have you ever thought you knew a person and their organization, only to discover that you had only ‘scratched the surface?’ Such is the case with Jim Gleason and TRIO (Transplant Recipients International Organization?) In researching this month’s column, I came to appreciate TRIO’s contribution to transplant support and Jim

By Richard F. Denno  This is the title of an article I wrote that was published nationally by the National Kidney Foundation in the mid 2000s. My beautiful wife, Midge, had been diagnosed with scleroderma in 2004, forcing her onto dialysis. Almost immediately, I and others stepped forward, volunteering to donate one of their kidneys.

By Richard F. Denno Wouldn’t that be SPECTACULAR! Last October, Steven Everhart from New England Donor Services and myself were speakers at the Annual Session of the CT Prince Hall Freemasons. I went first, and Steve followed. At that time the Mega Millions Jackpot had grown to $1.5 BILLION (that’s right, not million but BILLION!)

By Richard F. Denno If ever there was a person that was best described by the above title, it was my beautiful wife, Midge Denno. After all, she was the ‘Mother’ of the Masonic Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness Program, as well as my beautiful bride for almost 48 years. Had she not received her