The Waugh Memorial Garden was dedicated to the memory of Albert Waugh who served as President of the Board of Trustees from 1948-1950 and again in 1955. Albert Waugh was born in 1902 and died in 1984, serving as head of the Department of Economics at the University of Connecticut, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences and Provost. The garden, originally located between the Greer Wing and the former Emergency Department, was moved to its present location in 1997, as a result of a generous gift from the Golf Classic Committee. Additional gifts in memory of Dr. Frank Bird helped to establish this lovely sanctuary between the original structure, the Smith Wing and the Outpatient Surgery area in the Shea Building. A rock bearing Mr. Waugh's name and a sundial grace the garden today; a tribute to Mr. Waugh's generosity and guidance.

The garden can be accessed from a driveway between our new Emergency Department and the Shea Building from the outside. From inside the building signage can be found in the Atrium, via the Stairwell to Health or just outside the Outpatient Surgery waiting room on the second floor of the Shea Building. The doors from each of these buildings are open between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. Many of the plantings have been donated by Distinctive Landscaping and the garden is currently maintained by a devoted group of volunteers: the Friends of the Waugh Garden.

In 2004, Deborah Walsh Bellingham and Bruce Bellingham, as part of their requirements to become Master Gardeners, upgraded the garden's contents by adding a variety of new perennials, and provided signage for all plantings. Their friend, the late Stephen Murdock of Coventry, designed, and with Bruce installed, the trellis located on the West wall.

Dr. Ed Sawicki and Dr. Bob Bundy have also taken a personal interest in the garden for several years. In 2007, Dr. Sawicki created a water feature in the shape of the Hospital's new logo. The trickling water provides a calming influence for visitors to the hospital and its staff. Maintenance of the garden has been lovingly provided by Deborah and Bruce Bellingham over the past several years and today there has been a renewed interest in adding features and plantings to enhance the garden. The Friends of the Waugh Garden will serve as an oversight and working committee to keep the garden alive and well. Members are:

Bruce Bellingham
Deborah Walsh Bellingham
Bob Bundy, M.D.
Kathy Ohlund
Ed Sawicki, M.D.
Mark Schwab

On May 23, 2006 the Hospital held a special memorial service to honor those individuals who passed away while employed or on the medical staff at Windham Hospital. Individual brass markers were placed in the garden by family and friends to honor their contribution to Windham Hospital. Those honored in the garden include:

Millard Amdur, MD
James Anderson, MD
Lori Bartolucci
Jean Beckert
Duane Carlberg
Fred Chesters
James Cornish, PhD
Alan Dean
Jane Desmarais, RN
Leta Dewey, RN
Nancy Dunbar, RN
Marvin Ehrlich, MD
Eileen Ellis
Annette Fauteux
Linda Fluet
Phyllis Grenier
Douglas Griswold, MD
Darlene Hipsky, RN
Rita Masso
Rod E. McComber
Ingrid McKee
Susan Milositz
Sean Murphy, DPM
Pam Papanos, RN
Vasudeva Ranganathan, MD
Joyce Rivers
Michael Shore, MD
Narayanaswamy Sreenivasan, MD
James Smith, MD
Dennis Surette
Bernice Waddington
Deborah Washburn
Christine White

In addition, a special meditation was conducted in the garden by Claire Vidich, a member of the Hospital's Integrative Health Services Committee on June 10, 2007 during the Hospital's 2nd annual Cancer Survivors Day celebration. Three shrubs were donated by family members in memory of Ann S. Robb.