By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

Bob Mathas’ name is not on any of the rooms in the new Arthur B. and Ethel V. Horton VNA Hospice Center, but his name will long be remembered by the staff of the facility.

Mathas, a patient for two weeks at the Mary Bartz VNA Hospice Center died Sunday, Feb. 10 at the Horton VNA Hospice Center. He played a major role in moving the Hospice center to its new building at 2404 Valparaiso St. in Valparaiso.

While in his suite at the Mary Bartz Center, nurses told him he’d be moving to the new facility.

“He heard us talking about getting pick up trucks to help them move everything from the Mary Bartz Center to be to the Horton Center, said Margaret, his wife of 35 years.

“He told them, ‘don’t worry, I know a way to move you in one day,” she continued.

“He said, “It’s the least I can do for all that they’ve done for us,’” Margaret recalled.

Mathas told the nurses he would move the contents of the center in his semi.

Mathas, obviously could not drive his semi truck, but had no doubts that he could make good on his offer to get the move accomplished in one day.

Mathas, of Liberty Twp., was a trucker who hauled heavy equipment across the U.S. He owned his own rig which he parked (with a trailer attached) in his garage in Westville. He knew he couldn’t do the driving, but he knew who could - his best friend, Mark Dillingham, also of Liberty Twp.

Dillingham was in Laredo, Texas driving his own rig when he got the call that his best friend needed him.

“Those two used to phone each other every day, no matter where they were,” said April Dillingham, Mark’s wife.

There was no question and no hesitation when Mark got the call. He agreed to help his buddy. He left Texas Monday and returned to his Liberty Twp. home Wednesday.

“I would do anything and drive anywhere for him,” Mark said. “I Bob-tailed right home.”

The move was Thursday in Valparaiso.

Mark drove Mathas’ semi to the Center so Mathas could see it out his window from his suite that faced the drive. His family opened the window allowing him to smell the diesel fumes. Mark honked the horn in honor of his dying friend - a man who had been like a father to him.

Mathas obviously was well thought of by friends and family. They too showed up Thursday to help carry what Hospice staff referred to as an endless stream of items. Margaret, three children Marcy Norman, Robert Jr. and Kim Smee and their families cheerfully helped.

While the crew worked on moving the items, from the family room of the Horton Hospice Center, the aroma of spicy chili waffed through the air. April brought in the meal for the hungry workers. Meanwhile, the children played in the playroom.

Mathas’ grandson, Tyler was with them. Grandpa Bob had always promised to give four-year-old Tyler a ride in the semi, but never got around to it. Mark took him for that ride in Grandpa’s truck on Thursday.

According to Mathas’ younger brother Brad, of eleven siblings, Bob Mathas played the role of patriarch, often taking care of others.

Brad, who lives near the new Hospice facility, said he watched the building go up with little thought of what it means to the community. “Until someone experiences this first-hand, they just don’t know,” he said. “But I will forever be indebted to the people here who have helped my brother. The new building is great, but it’s the staff that makes this place so special.”

“We hope people will give memorial donations to the VNA Hospice,” Margaret said. “They have been wonderful.”

“But I also want to recognize Dr. Stadler and his oncology staff on the sixth floor of the University of Chicago Hospital,” she said, adding that they treated him for three years making it possible for Mathas to continue driving his truck until August. “They, too, were fantastic.”

“The VNA nurses said they never saw anyone live so long, when he should have been dead,” commenting on the strength her husband always displayed.

“I think he was waiting to get everyone closer together and he accomplished that,” she said.

The funeral is Thursday. His 53-foot semi freight that he loved so much will be parked at White-Love Funeral Home for the funeral.

Posted 2/12/2002