Jean Burchinal Purvis, whose efforts to create a health center in the county for people without insurance led to the center being named in her honor, died Sunday at home.

The beloved and admired 98-year-old Butler woman will be remembered throughout the community for her compassion, creativity and perserverance.

While on vacation in Hilton Head, S.C., in 2005, Purvis came across a clinic that provided free health care for adults without insurance. The inspiration she discovered would lead to a lasting legacy in Western Pennsylvania.

John Righetti, former vice president of relationship management for Butler Health System, said Purvis approached him a short time later with the idea of starting a clinic.

After conducting some research, he found a clinic in Erie that served people with no insurance and he took Purvis and some doctors to visit. The longtime community champion told the group then and there that she wanted the same thing in Butler.

Soon, the Community Health Clinic of Butler County started to take shape, later opening its doors to the public in 2008. The center was renamed the Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center in 2018 after its founder.

“We came back to Butler, and Jean did everything she could to make it possible. Before you knew it, she had property, union labor, volunteer staff. She made it happen,” Righetti said. “She founded that clinic and there are no payment mechanisms. No one pays for anything. The clinic relies entirely on contributions, grants and donations.”

Righetti, who went on to serve as the clinic's director of development for two years until he retired in November, said the entire staff of doctors, dentists and nurses are volunteers.

Stan Kosciusko, president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, couldn't agree more. He remembers meeting Purvis in her quest to provide health care to those less fortunate than her. He called the health center Purvis' legacy.

“Most people knew her for her grace and sophistication,” Kosciusko said. “I knew her for her compassion, perseverance, intelligence, creativity and, most of all, her love and respect for those who needed help. Her legacy is a jewel in Butler County's crown as we are all better human beings due to her efforts with the Community Health Clinic.”

Dave Konesni, board president of the Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center, said Purvis was an active member of the center's board of directors and attended every meeting. He said she listened to all ideas, but definitely had a vision of what she wanted the center to be.

“Jean had one thing in mind,” Konesni said. “That was to create an environment for people in time of need to get the highest quality health care treatment and make them feel like they were being treated at the highest quality medical center we could create.”

Before the health center opened for business, Purvis called Jim Cunningham, a family friend and professional fundraiser.

“She said 'Jim, this is your mother,'” Cunningham said. “I said anything for you. You just didn't say no to Jean. She said we're going to build a health clinic, and we need you to help raise $1 million and we don't have money to pay you.”

The campaign was a success and more than $1 million was raised to start the clinic, he said.

Purvis was serving on the clinic board in 2018 when the board wanted to change the name of the clinic to the Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center.

She was reluctant at first to approve of the name change, said Kim Reamer, the center's executive director since 2015.

“It did take a lot of convincing, but she agreed to it. Jean was behind the scenes. She was very humbled and said that it isn't necessary. We told her we are proud to have her name on it,” Reamer said.

She said Purvis also worked behind the scenes to help create the Butler Visiting Nursing Association.

“She was a phenomenal woman. She was the true definition of service and paying it forward. That's what she taught all of us on a daily basis. It was not only a privilege, but an honor to know her,” Reamer said.

Purvis always took a keen interest in the well-being of the volunteer staff at the center.

“In January, when she turned 98, the staff wanted to have a party, but we knew she couldn't come, so we took the party to her. It was a wonderful afternoon. She loved it,” Reamer said.

When she became executive director of the center, Purvis asked her about her vision for the clinic.

“My vision is we are a team. We work together to help the underserved in Butler County,” Reamer told the beloved founder.

Purvis told her they shared the same vision.

Butler County Community College President Nick Neupauer described Purvis as a pillar of the community, pointing to her work with the BC3 Education Foundation. She became a member of the foundation's board of directors in 1987, and was later named its First Member Emeritus in 2014.

“Jean was a true pillar of our community,” Neupauer said. “She was instrumental in key donations and partnerships at BC3.”

She was also a member of the Butler Health System Foundation for 20 years.

“Jean led by example. Her tireless work for the community was something to behold,” said Ken DeFurio, president and CEO of Butler Health System. DeFurio pointed out that most in the community may not know it, but that Purvis was the county's health care historian, even authoring a book, “The History of Medicine in Butler County.”

Ron Vodenichar, Butler Eagle president and publisher, echoed the thoughts of community leaders.

“I was fortunate to serve on several boards and committees with her and could always count on her sage advice and honest opinions,” Vodenichar said. “She was part of a great group of leaders and will be sorely missed.”

Her obituary appears on Page 6.