Abstract
The world knows Florence S. Wald as “the mother of the American hospice movement.” I knew her in her later life as a mentor and friend. This may not seem unusual, as Florence was a warm and generous human being who continued her professional involvements late into her life. In fact, the unusual aspect of our relationship resulted from two of Florence's many extraordinary qualities: 1) her willingness to share her own life experience in ways that informed others of life's possibilities; and 2) her insight that professionals continue to benefit from—actually need—mentorship throughout the life of their careers. She provided me with professional support at critical times and afforded me the privilege of witnessing life's closing chapters, a tutorial filled with wisdom and borne of uncommon generosity.
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