Tippett Construction Participates in 5th Annual Nina Beck Memorial to benefit Washington Hospital Center.
J.L. Tippett Construction Company employees and family members participated in the 5th annual Nina Beck Memorial Golf Outing, which benefits the Advanced Heart Failure Fund at Washington Hospital Center. This was the 4th year employees of Tippett Construction have participated in this charitable event. This year, volunteers and golfers from Tippett Construction included Jay Tippett, Joe Tippett, Steve and Christina Tippett and Josh Williams.
Shortly after turning 50 in 1995, Nina Beck became unusually sick. Diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a weakening of the heart muscle, when she began seeing MedStar Washington Hospital Center cardiologist Elizabeth Ross, MD.
During the next 14 years, Dr. Ross and members of the MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute’s Advanced Heart Failure team worked with Nina to manage her condition. In the fall of 2010, Nina received a LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device)., enabling her to enjoy another Thanksgiving and Christmas with her family. The disease proved to be too much to full conquer, however and Nina died in March 2011.
Nina’s passing opened a new chapter in the Beck family’s relationship with the Hospital Center. The Becks requested that memorial contributions go towards MedStar Heart’s technology and education programs.
The Beck family, who live in Odenton Md., also launched the annual Nina Beck Memorial Golf Outing, raising nearly $50,000 for MedStar Heart in its first four years.
The family looks forward to continuing the involvement with the Hospital Center.
“Mom was such an advocate for them, encouraging others with heart problems to se the doctors at the Hospital Center and sharing stories of her experiences there,” Jennifer says. “What better way to carry on her work and her spirit than by supporting efforts that will help others fight heart disease.”
The Tippett family has participated in this worthwhile fund raising event because it was the same Advanced Heart Failure MedStar unit that cared for Jay’s brother, Jerry, who also suffered from cardiomyopathy. It was during this time he met Nina Beck and her family. Jerry initially received an LVAD which he had for over two years before a donor heart became available. MedStar then successfully completed a heart transplant for Jerry in 2012.