40-Year Employee of BU Given a Piece of Family History From Dental Health Center

Long-time Boston University employee, Assistant Director of Support Services Molly Ship, has been receiving dental care at the BU Dental Health Center since it opened it’s doors in 1991. She looks forward to visiting the dentist, not only because of the close relationship she has with her hygienist Anne Jensen, but also because of the print hanging on the wall in the dental bay where she receives her treatment.

The print is of a painting of the Boston Public Garden, done in the late 1980’s. In the painting her now deceased brother-in-law, Sam Amato, sits on a bench waiting for his wife and grandchildren who are enjoying a ride in one of the swan boats.

"If I know my brother in law, he was taking a nap when this was being painted," laughs Ship.

According to Ship, the painter asked Amato’s permission before including him, and once the painting was completed Ship’s sister, Ethel Amato, and one of Ethel’s two daughters hung prints of it in their homes. Ship says she easily recognized the painting when she saw it at the Dental Health Center some time later.

As the Dental Health Center prepares to move to their new location, they were happy to give the print to Ship. She says she will either hang it up in her own home or perhaps give it to her niece, either way it will serve as a wonderful reminder of that day in the Garden for Ship’s family.