Before much was known about Alzheimer’s disease, Rev. T. Lennard Eide, former president and chief executive officer of Bethany Methodist Corp., a Chicago-based health-care company, wanted to change the type of care given to Alzheimer’s patients.
“The irony of this, the unit we worked to establish is the unit he ended up in,” said Stephen Dahl, who replaced Rev. Eide when he retired in 1984. “It was very meaningful to think the mission of that unit he helped to create was now caring for him and his family in his last years.”
Rev. Eide, 82, of Park Ridge died Friday, May 31, in Bethany Terrace Nursing Centre in Morton Grove of complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
Rev. Eide developed the Alzheimer’s Care Center in Bethany Terrace Nursing Centre. He believed that patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s would benefit from an activity-based program.
“We all agreed that a nursing model wasn’t appropriate for early Alzheimer’s,” Dahl said.
Rev. Eide, who was born in Chicago, graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington with a bachelor of arts degree in 1944. He received a master’s degree in divinity from Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston in 1948.
After graduation, Rev. Eide was pastor and youth director at churches in Niagara and Oshkosh, Wis.
During the 1950s, Rev. Eide was instrumental in developing the Winnebago County Mental Health Center and served on its board of directors until 1963, when he began his 21-year career with Bethany Methodist Corp.
“The center evolved to not only independent living in the retirement community but shelter care and then acute care in the hospital,” Dahl said.
Beginning in 1978, Rev. Eide served four years as president of the Illinois Association of Homes for the Aging in Oak Brook. After Rev. Eide retired, he served as a consultant for the organization for several years. He also was active in the local Meals on Wheels program.
“He was so kind and he listened to people,” said his wife of 57 years, Dorothy.
Other survivors include two daughters, Christine Priest and Karen Percak; a sister, Virginia Loper; and five grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church, 418 W. Touhy Ave., Park Ridge.
