By Emma Barhydt
In a celebration of philanthropy, community, and healthcare excellence, Greenwich Hospital is honoring Icy and Scott Frantz with the inaugural Luminate Health and Medicine Award at the Hospital’s annual Benefit on September 27. The Frantz family’s ties to Greenwich Hospital are not just longstanding; they are deeply ingrained in the hospital’s history. Beginning with Icy Frantz’s father, who was a long-time board member, the family’s involvement with the hospital has evolved into a testament to their enduring commitment to the community and the hospital’s progress.
“Our relationship with the hospital goes back generations,” said Icy Frantz, “My father was really involved and ran the board at the hospital for a long time. I feel like we’ve started life with the hospital and we’ve ended life with the hospital.”
Scott expressed his gratitude upon learning of the award, noting, “In all cycles of life, we’ve gone to the Greenwich Hospital for care and advice, everything you can get from a healthcare group… we’re happy to help them.” The Frantz family’s impact on the hospital and the Greenwich community has been profound, contributing to the hospital’s evolution into a leading medical institution that seamlessly blends cutting-edge treatment with a compassionate, community-oriented approach.
A particularly significant chapter in the Frantz family’s connection to Greenwich Hospital occurred when Icy spent over 100 days on bed rest during a complicated pregnancy. The care she received during this challenging period forged strong bonds with the hospital staff, transforming a difficult experience into one marked by empathy and support. “I spent over 100 days on my back when I was pregnant with the twins at the hospital. Our experiences with the hospital and the people, really, who work there have all been amazing,” she recalled. “From Rosa, who washed my hair and took care of that for me because I couldn’t get out of bed, to the nurses who were amazing, to the physical therapist, to Oscar the ultrasound technician… to have a community hospital, so first-rate in so many areas, we’re lucky.”
“Oscar would come in every Thursday for our weekly ultrasound, and he would come dressed up. He would bring music. He just made it an event, and he didn’t need to do that. But that, to me, is what the hospital is about — a lot of very special people,” Icy recounted.
Reflecting on the hospital’s role in the community, Icy continued, “And I think that to be able to have that back-and-forth communication with a community, and looking at what the needs are, and then finding solutions is really important. Really, that is why we’ve dug in and leaned into being a part of what’s happening at Greenwich Hospital.”
“And let’s be honest,” she added, “it’s beautiful. We have a beautiful facility. We all laugh, like you have your kids there and then you get the steak or the lobster dinner right after. They’re amazing. But I think that balance between being able to offer first-rate treatment and state-of-the-art treatment and being on that cutting edge and their affiliation with Yale has actually been really beneficial because we end up getting a lot of the doctors and the specialists come down to Greenwich Hospital. And then, we also can be a teaching hospital, which is awesome because then we have young and new doctors and residents in the facility, which is great.”
Icy also highlighted the convenience and comfort of having top-notch healthcare close to home. “I also think it’s a real luxury to be near home because then you have family members that can be there. And just the logistics of care – which as we get older, I feel more and more care is needed — and the time spent dealing with health issues is greater. So it’s particularly nice, I think, to have something right here in our own neighborhood where you can have that. They also say you do really well when you come home from a hospital. The next best thing is being able to be right in your own community. I think Greenwich Hospital provides that.”
The Benefit will not only shine a spotlight on the Frantz family but will also acknowledge the substantial contributions of Dr. Shruti Gupta and Dr. Romelle Maloney. Dr. Gupta, a neonatologist and medical director of Greenwich Hospital’s NICU, will be honored for her expert and empathetic care of infants and their families. Dr. Maloney, a community OB/ GYN with over 30 years of service, will be recognized for her advocacy, compassionate care, and unwavering commitment to empowering women.
As Greenwich Hospital continues to grow and refine its services, the Frantz family’s dedication, combined with the remarkable efforts of physicians like Dr. Gupta and Dr. Maloney, ensures that the hospital remains a place where patients receive not only the highest standard of medical care but also the warmth and support essential to recovery.
“So first-rate in so many areas — I hear more and more people choosing to stay and have treatment in Greenwich because the treatment that they give is exceptional,” explained Icy. “Now they have a trauma unit, which is awesome. And I feel like they’re on the cutting edge of a lot of the mental health treatment with their new intensive outpatient program for young adults.”
“Greenwich Hospital has balanced first-rate treatment with also a community feel, and I think that’s a hard thing to do.”
To support the Benefit for Greenwich Hospital’s campaign fundraising areas or to recognize the honorees, please visit 24BENEFIT.GIVESMART.COM.
