Visitors to St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn or to the DeMatteis Center in Old Brookville one day last month were greeted by a nautical theme as well as members of the staff and volunteers wearing lapel pins of life preservers containing pictures of Dr. Robert Vizza, who has just retired as Chief Executive Officer of the hospital.

Dr. Vizza informed the hospital of his intention to retire, saying in part: "It is time. Since I will reach 65 in April, and with the most recent organizational changes in the Catholic Network, the time is appropriate for me to formally relinquish my responsibilities as president and chief executive officer of all the St. Francis Corporations."

The nautical theme of the day was echoed in speech after speech as Dr. Vizza was credited with having turned the ship of St. Francis around and created the outstanding, world-class hospital that it is today. An official proclamation stated: "Under Dr. Vizza's guidance and leadership, St. Francis Hospital was transformed from a community hospital facing fiscal hardship to a financially secure, cardiac specialty center that continues its work in service to the community. Today, St. Francis Hospital is recognized as a world-renowned leader in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cardiac disease. "

The proclamation concludes: "As on this occasion, as we honor Dr. Vizza for his accomplishments and reflect on the tremendous impact that his work and dedication have meant to the foundation and future of our hospital, we recognize that the most significant impact that Dr. Vizza has had on all of us is his friendship, and in his own words this will transcend both time and place and has been and will be as unshakeable as the institution that we have built.'"