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Generosity Beyond a Lifetime — The Bookers
The legacy begins in 1921 when John
Marshall Booker married Jane Hurd
in New York City. During the course
of their marriage, the Bookers became
prominent members of the community
and dedicated philanthropists on behalf of
many charitable organizations, including
Jersey Shore University Medical Center
and Riverview Medical Center.
The Bookers' philanthropy
started in
1964 with a $25 gift
to Riverview. Today it
would be difficult to
navigate either campus
and not notice
the significant impact
of the Jane H. Booker
Charitable Foundation.
Since that first gift,
more than $20 million
has been contributed
to Jersey Shore and
Riverview. John and
Jane Booker remain the
largest single donors to
Meridian hospitals.
A History of Giving
A successful stockbroker,
John joined the
board of governors at
Fitkin Hospital, now
known as Jersey Shore
University Medical
Center, in 1931 at
the urging of his
friend James F.
Ackerman, M.D.
For more than 30
years, John served
in leadership roles,
including vice president, president, and
chairman of the board. When he resigned
in 1967, the board named him honorary
chairman. John passed away in 1973.
Jane Hurd learned the importance of
service from her mother, who was an
active philanthropist. Jane joined the Fitkin
Hospital board of governors in 1949, and
served on the nursing committee for the Ann May School of Nursing, as well as
the house, grounds, and decorating committee.
She died in 1994.
Two Hospitals, Countless Gifts
At Riverview, you can see the Jane H.
Booker Pavilion, the Booker Cancer Center,
and the Booker Radiation Oncology
Center. The Booker Foundation also supported
the relocation and expansion of the
Booker Outpatient Dialysis Center and the
Booker Behavioral Health Center.
At Jersey Shore, the foundation established
the Jane H. Booker Health Sciences
Library, an invaluable resource for medical
residents and the community. Gifts
also funded the Jane H. Booker Radiation
Oncology Center, the Jane H. Booker
Family Health Center, the Jane H. Booker
Learning Center, and the Jane H. Booker
Dialysis Center.
The Foundation Today
Milton A. Mausner, Esq., serves as
co-trustee of the Booker Trust and the
Booker Charitable Foundation with
Linda Franciscovich. He believes the
Bookers would be proud of what he
and Linda have done to represent their
spirit, commitment, and love for the
community. Milton adds that he is
privileged to assist in carrying out
Mrs. Booker's charitable intentions
through her trust and foundation.
Sadly, gifts made this year will be
the last. The foundation has given all its
money to worthy causes. A final distribution
for Jersey Shore will name the Booker
Outpatient Pavilion, Booker Boulevard, and
the Jane H. Booker Green. At Riverview,
final gifts from the foundation will name
the Booker Woman's and Child Center and
Booker Way.
 – Nancy Barone
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