In Memoriam


The Board of Directors of Suncoast Hospice, the organization's leadership, staff and volunteers are deeply saddened to share that Mary J. Labyak, President & CEO of Suncoast Hospice, died Saturday, Feb. 4th. Mary died peacefully in the loving care of a Suncoast Hospice patient and family care team, her devoted family and dear friends.
 
In honor of Mary Labyak, please visit her legacy website and we encourage you to leave your thoughts, prayers and wishes in her memory book.

Mary was a guiding force in end-of-life care and will be greatly missed.

Our Leadership

President and CEO

Mary Labyak, MSSW, LCSW, has been a leader at Suncoast Hospice since the organization's start more than 30 years ago. Working with a group of volunteers whose mission was to find better, more humane ways of caring for dying people, Mary and her team introduced hospice care to Pinellas County in west central Florida. She became the organization’s president, executive director and CEO in 1983, and together with other pioneering hospice leaders across America, established the solid foundation for modern hospice care. Under Mary’s leadership, Suncoast Hospice is acknowledged as one of the most respected, innovative hospices nationwide.


Program Innovator

Mary and Suncoast Hospice broke new ground, developing innovative programs and services currently being used by hospices all over the United States. These include programs for seriously and or terminally ill children, support for their families, hospice in the nursing home, the Hospice Medicare Benefit, and teen volunteer partnerships are among these programs. Never afraid to take courageous steps when times and her community called for them, Mary secured hospice care for AIDS patients in her service area even in the earliest days of the epidemic when other health care professionals were debating whether to serve HIV/AIDS patients or turn them away.

In 1997, Mary was instrumental in helping to form a software company, Suncoast Solutions, devoted to creating software for hospices and home health providers. One in four hospice patients nationwide is served by a hospice that uses Suncoast Solutions products. That means that patient files, once vulnerable to being torn, lost, difficult to read or not readily available can be accessed at the bedside or elsewhere day or night. Mary’s influence has touched hospices in Switzerland and elsewhere in the world. Suncoast even has a partnership with Hospice of Witwatersrand of Johannesburg and Soweto, South Africa. 
 

Spokesperson for Hospice Care

Mary is a sought after speaker on end-of-life care and concerns. She serves in leadership capacities with state and national hospice organizations, such as Florida Hospices and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and helps to shape legislation pertaining to care at the end-of-life. She was appointed to the prestigious Florida Panel on End-of-Life Care, which was established by the state legislature.  White House administrations have consulted with her on matters of public policy on end-of-life care.  
 

Award-Winning

Mary Labyak and Suncoast Hospice have garnered numerous awards and accolades. Most notable among them are the esteemed Heart of Hospice Award (NHPCO), the first ever Circle of Life Award (American Hospital Association), Caregiving Excellence (NHPCO),  President’s Point of Light Award, Award of Excellence in Education (NHPCO) and most recently, Mary Labyak was the recipient of the prestigious Healthcare Architect Award (NHPCO and National Hospice Foundation).  Recipients of the Healthcare Architect Award are recognized for their significant impact in the delivery and understanding of hospice and palliative care. Click here to view Mary Labyak accept the Healthcare Architect Award.


If you’re interested in learning more about Suncoast Hospice and our services, we'd love to hear from you. Request services now or call us at (727) HOSPICE | 467-7423.