Hospital volunteer hands out coffee, good cheer

Bernie Aispuro, a retired prison warden who moved to Clovis five years ago, says helping others feel better is one of life's rewards

From left, Bernie Aispuro visits with Nanceee Fox of Santa Rosa and Janice Fox of Auberry as they wait for a family member who is in the intensive care unit at Clovis Community Medical Center. Aispuro, 81, volunteers at the hospital regularly, handing out coffee and good cheer to those in the waiting room.

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For 41 years, Bernie Aispuro ruled the roost as warden of some of California's most infamous prisons such as Soledad and San Quentin.

If only the inmates could see him now.

Aispuro, 81, spends his days handing out coffee and good cheer as a volunteer in the surgery waiting room at Clovis Community Medical Center.

He believes people are people, whether they are behind bars or waiting anxiously for loved ones in surgery.

"I just love people. My wife always says I never meet a stranger," Aispuro said.

Aispuro is known throughout the hospital for his vibrant personality and refreshing humor.

Aispuro said every day is rewarding.

When Aispuro retired and moved to Clovis five years ago, he began thinking about volunteering.

"I just felt like I needed to be doing something," Aispuro said. "I had a friend who volunteered at the Children's Hospital, but I knew I couldn't handle that -- I would be in tears most of the time."

The Clovis Community Medical Center Guild seemed to strike the right tune.

"I don't even know how I ended up here, but I met with Paula and started volunteering," Aispuro said.

Paula Sebra, the volunteer coordinator at Clovis Community Medical Center, has known Aispuro for as long as he has been at the hospital.

"Bernie is great. He is great with people and he is always willing to volunteer more hours," Sebra said.

Aispuro immediately hit it off with the guild and now is the vice president.

Sebra said that Aispuro is one of the few men prepared to take on a bunch of women and volunteer in the guild.

"As vice president, I oversee a board meeting once a month," Aispuro said. "It's 12 women and me."

Guild president Joyce Morrelli said having Aispuro in a position of leadership for the guild has been extremely helpful.

"When I was a prison warden, I had 1,700 convicts who had to listen me. Now in the guild there are 30 women, who don't listen as well, but treat me good," a smiling Aispuro said.

Among the inmates that Aispuro met during his career were Sirhan Sirhan, who killed Robert Kennedy, and mass murderer Charles Manson.

During his 41 years as a prison warden, Aispuro saw all kinds of convicts.

"I had everyone from movie stars to public officials, but to me they are all just blue shirts," Aispuro said.

Arleen Aispuro, Aispuro's wife of 25 years and a fellow guild member, knows the ease in which her husband can get along with anyone.

"Through his work in the prisons, he was used to being in the limelight and making fast and firm decisions that come in handy with volunteering at the hospital," Arleen Aispuro said. "He just enjoys people and he enjoys helping them."

The Aispuros joined the guild at the same time.

"I started in the gift shop with my wife, but I got too nervous with the money." Bernie Aispuro said. "If we were a penny short, I would get paranoid."

He made the transition to the surgery waiting room and found his niche.

"The surgery waiting room has no reference to money, and the only thing I can steal in there is coffee, which is complimentary," Aispuro said.

For five years he has been taking care of relatives in the waiting room, serving tea, coffee and chocolate candy to those in need.

"I meet a lot of different people from a lot of different walks of life, from the chief of police to the mayor to a field worker. The room brings in everyone from everywhere," Aispuro said.

Armed with a list of the patients and the types of surgery, Aispuro offers what he can to those in the waiting room and reports back to the nurses.

"The nurses in the surgery waiting room -- they are a fantastic bunch," Aispuro said.

Beverly Merrick, one of those nurses, said Aispuro brightens the time there.

"I bonded with him immediately. He has got the greatest sense of humor and is really great at what he does," Merrick said.

As the main volunteer in the surgery waiting room, Aispuro offers surgery updates and manages any emotional situations with those waiting for loved ones.

"In this position you are dealing with crisis situations and you have to be able to talk to people, and that is Bernie's best trait," Merrick said.

Aispuro also delivers information on any need-to-know situations to the nurses.

"He is our back and forth bridge of information," Merrick said. "He is great at assessing the situation and most of the time being able to handle it himself. He just really knows how to handle the room."

Guild president Morrelli agrees. "Bernie always knows how to handle people. People who come into the surgery waiting room are not in the best of moods," she said. "That's where Bernie comes in with jokes and coffee."

Morrelli said that Aispuro is known for his two sides. He can make the room laugh and then immediately turn around and provide care and concern.

To Aispuro, volunteering is part of life.

"If they feel good, then I feel good. And that's what it's all about."

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