The shiny, new, $300,000 ultrasound machine in a Harper College lab bears a corporate logo, but in a sense it has Cheryl Dwyer’s name written all over it.
And although Dwyer died more than three years ago in a plane crash, her contributions to Harper’s Cardiac Technology Program remain strong in the memories of people who gathered Monday to watch the machine reproduce images of a beating heart.
Dwyer, a consultant for Hewlett-Packard, in 1993 began helping train students to use ultrasound equipment the school recently purchased from the company.
From the beginning, Dwyer volunteered several hours each weekend, far beyond what her job required, program Chairman Will Hoffman said. Often she would bring in computer software and other teaching aids–not to mention lunch–for everyone, he said.
Outside class, she recruited students to Harper’s cardiac program, Hoffman said.
“She never accepted anything for her (weekend) work. That lady was special,” Hoffman said.
On Oct. 31, 1994, American Eagle Flight 4184 crashed in an Indiana field, killing all 68 on board; Dwyer, 41, of Arlington Heights was one of them.
By the time of Dwyer’s death, her involvement with the school had strengthened the bond between the cardiac program and the company, which in 1995 established a scholarship in Dwyer’s name.
The first recipient was Nellie Ortega, 25, of Des Plaines. It was at Dwyer’s urging that Ortega opted for cardiac training over another medical-related program at Harper.
Hoffman recently decided Harper needed a new ultrasound machine, so he approached Hewlett-Packard. The company, with the help of sales representative Linda Luzbetak, loaned the equipment to Harper on an unspecified, long-term basis.
On Monday, Hoffman held a demonstration of the apparatus, thanking the company and recognizing Dwyer.
Along with the college and corporate officials were Ortega; Dwyer’s husband, Dennis; her mother, Laverne Hoskins; and her brother, Mike Hanisch.
“She’s still helping people, even in death,” Hanisch said.
