A legacy of life: Former Grove City doctor's project saving babies in Ghana

Apr. 1—GROVE CITY — During his 71 years in the Grove City Rotary Club, the late Bernie Hoyt committed his life to making the world a better place, through his medical profession and through his charitable acts.

While Hoyt has passed, his memory will live on, especially in the hearts of parents and newborn babies in Zebilla in the West African country of Ghana.

Hoyt participated in a neonatal care project in Ghana. Unfortunately he was never able to see the project to completion. The goal was to get a baby incubator to a Ghanaian hospital that lacked an incubator. Without the equipment, the hospital had a high infant death rate.

Hoyt was born in 1925 in Grove City and began his record of service in 1942, when he joined the Marine Corps at the age of 17 and fought in the Pacific Theater of World War II until his honorable discharge in 1945.

When Hoyt left the military, he attended college with the goal of helping people through medicine. He graduated from Kenyon College and Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Hoyt completed an internship in his hometown of Grove City and a residency in Kirksville before becoming a surgeon.

Hoyt worked out of Mercer and Grove City and was a founder of the Shenango Valley Osteopatic Hospital in Farrell, which is now UPMC Horizon's Shenango Valley campus. He was a member of several medical societies such as the American Osteopathic Board of Surgeons, the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association and was selected as an examiner on the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.

Along with all his other hobbies, Hoyt's most beloved personal work included philanthropy with the Rotary Club.

His 71 years as a member of the club include recognition in December 2004, when Mercer Rotary honored him with the Outstanding Service Award and in the following year, 2005, the club created the Dr. Bernard Hoyt Community Service Award.

Hoyt loved to travel and often provided humanitarian work wherever he went. The club saw the opportunity for Hoyt to contribute to his final project.

Hoyt passed away in July 2023, but the incubator project continued in his memory. Members of other clubs and other people in the community contributed money. The group also received a grant and the dream became a reality.

"As a dedicated Rotarian for 71 years, Bernie Hoyt selflessly served his fellow citizens through various charitable initiatives," Rotary club president Aaron Sines said. "His unwavering commitment to community service and his boundless compassion truly exemplified the Rotary spirit of 'service above self'."

The incubator is up and running, and has saved many babies who might otherwise have died. Hoyt's legacy lives on with each baby saved.

Two of Hoyt's three kids also carry on his legacy by being doctors and helping people on their own. He also impacted many of his patients to give back.

"He was a great role model and a great person," Adam Burns, a patient of Hoyt, said. "He is an inspiration to carry on his type of work."