4- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday December 1, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Erinoak position has the right feel General as a clinical dietitian, but within six cated she could pursue a career as a pediatrician, months found herself in an administrative role in charge of the 250 people who served food at the if a boy, and home economics, if a girl. "So I went to Acadia University to study home large 1,200-bed hospital. Rothney was only 24 at the time. economics," she said. She fully expected to follow She said she recalls how the staff rallied around the textile stream there, but found herself studyher and supported her so that she was a success in ing nutrition instead, which led her to the internthe role. ship at Sick Kids. "When I walked through the To this day, Rothney, though "When I walked through the a quiet person, exudes a caring door of Sick Kids, I had a door of Sick Kids, I had a feelspirit and a demonstrated faciliing that had such an impact on feeling that had such an tative leadership style that has me, it can still be felt to this impact on me, it can still be catapulted her to the status of a day. Everyone there was totally felt to this day. Everyone force to be reckoned with. focused on the patient and there was totally focused on Rothney briefly worked in their family. Everybody, to a the private sector, but soon both the patient and their family. person, was focused and undershe and her husband returned stood why they were there," Everybody, to a person, was to Toronto -- Rothney becomsaid Rothney. focused and understood ing food services director at It was here in Toronto that why they were there." Princess Margaret Hospital. Rothney met her future hus"When I walked through the band, the late David Appleton. Linda Rothney, doors, guess what? I felt that The couple later headed to B.C. president and CEO same feeling as I had at Sick where Rothney achieved her ErinoakKids Kids. Everyone had a tremenMaster's degree and Appleton dous sense of purpose," said worked after having earned his Rothney. PhD. That's not all she gleaned at Princess Margaret. Though trained as a biochemist, Appleton Rothney first functioned as head of the hospimoved into administration with large firms like tal's nutrition department, but also found herself MacMillan Bloedel and Northern Telecom, later chair of a new concept matrix management team Nortel. The two married in 1980, and had a son in charge of the hospital's lodge. After not only solving some administrative Jordan, now 22. However, in 1997, Appleton budget problems, but having enough cash left passed away as the result of a brain tumour. Rothney said her Masters research at the over to spruce the lodge up, Rothney decided to University of B.C. took her to the old Vancouver have a small celebration to mark the occasion. Rothney invited the hospital administrator, General Hospital, which, she said, was really the and laughs as she recalls the administrator children's hospital for B.C. at that time. See ErinoakKids page 8 Rothney later landed a job at Vancouver Continued from page 3