News & Stories

Cooper University Health Care Celebrates Margaret L. Isaacs Chapel Rededication and Ribbon Cutting

On June 10th, Cooper University Healthcare celebrated the rededication the Margaret L. Isaacs Chapel— a cherished space for reflection, healing, and hope. The chapel has been thoughtfully relocated to the Roberts Pavilion Lobby, enhancing accessibility for patients, families, and staff while supporting the expansion of essential hospital services. The reconfigured area will also accommodate new Pathology Physician Offices and additional facilities for Cooper’s Residency Program.

“The relocation and rededication of the Margaret L. Isaacs Chapel is about more than just a physical move – it’s about ensuring that every patient, family member, and staff member at Cooper has access to a quiet space for reflection and healing,” said Kevin O’Dowd, JD, co-CEO of Cooper. “This chapel now sits at the heart of our hospital, a powerful symbol of our commitment to holistic care that embraces the mind, body, and spirit.”

“The newly located Margaret L. Isaacs Chapel stands as a symbol of comfort and spirituality at the heart of Cooper’s commitment to compassionate care,” said Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli, co-CEO of Cooper. “This space was thoughtfully designed to offer solace and peace, welcoming all faiths and beliefs. It represents the unwavering dedication of the Isaacs family and our broader community to ensure that Cooper remains a place where healing extends beyond medicine—where every patient and family member can find strength and hope in times of need.”

The ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony honored the memory of the late Margaret L. Isaacs, a long-time patient of the late Edward D. Viner, M.D., MACP. She is remembered as a devoted wife, mother, and community member, known for her compassion, faith, and unwavering dedication to helping others.

“Margaret was the heart of our family—gracious, compassionate, and always thinking of others,” said her son, Harry H. Isaacs, Jr. “She had a quiet strength, a deep faith, and a sincere dedication to her community and church. To know her was to be touched by her kindness. My father and I were honored to dedicate this chapel in her memory, in the hope that it brings peace and comfort to others, just as she always did. Margaret would have been pleased with the relocation, as it offers greater visibility and improved access for more patients and their families.”

A dedication plaque at the entrance of the chapel now commemorates her life and spirit, serving as a lasting tribute to her legacy of kindness and service. The design of this new space brings in many of the elements that have brought visitors comfort for years: the portrait of Margaret Isaacs and a beautiful tribute to her written by Dr. Ed Viner, of whom she was a long-time patient and friend; two striking stained-glass windows preserved from the First Methodist Episcopal Church on 6th and Stevens Street; and a delicate porcelain plate, hand-painted by Mrs. Isaacs, that speaks to her love of art and beauty.

As Margaret herself cherished, the following words—painted on the porcelain plate displayed in the chapel—serve as a guiding principle for all who pass through:

“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing therefore, that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.”

The celebration also served as a reminder of the vital role of philanthropy in shaping the patient experience at Cooper.

“To all of our generous Cooper donors: your belief in the mission of Cooper University Health Care—and in the power of compassionate, whole-person care—is what brings spaces like the Isaacs Chapel to life,” said Lisa Morina, Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer. “You recognize that healing isn’t just about procedures and prescriptions, but about comfort, reflection, and spiritual strength.”

The newly rededicated Margaret L. Isaacs Chapel now stands as a lasting tribute to a remarkable woman and a powerful reflection of Cooper’s commitment to holistic care. A sanctuary of solace and strength, it continues to offer peace and comfort to all who enter— just as Margaret Isaacs would have wanted.