“What are You Doing for Others?”

John H. Motley is no stranger to battles.

A decorated Vietnam veteran, he has survived cancer, a blood clot, sepsis, and most recently, a stroke. Even so, nothing has prevented him from doing what he loves most: helping others.

Formerly the President of the Travelers Foundation, the Amistad Center for Art & Culture, and the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, John is a beloved presence in the Greater Hartford region and has been honored for his decades of service on numerous non-profit boards and committees throughout Connecticut.

At 81, and after recently retiring from his fundraising business, he still joyously dedicates his time to volunteer work and mentoring young people, driven by a philosophy he’s followed throughout his adult life.

“Dr. King said it best,” he says, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

That same spirit of service led him to take on what he calls one of the most meaningful roles of his life: joining the Board of Directors at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, the very place that is helping him recover after a life-changing stroke in early 2024.

“The first reason I joined the board is the people. The second is the people. And the third is the people,” he said. “I love Gaylord because of the exceptional, caring staff members and their unmatched professionalism. They gave me my life back."

“When I arrived at Gaylord Hospital three days after my stroke, I was in poor shape. I had memory loss and couldn’t walk farther than 30 yards. Fortunately, my positive attitude and my sense of humor survived,” he shares.

Throughout his recovery, John was deeply moved by the compassion and expertise of the Gaylord team. It wasn’t just the front-line medical staff and therapists who made a difference in his recovery. He remembers one housekeeper whose kindness, respect, and obvious pride in her work deeply resonated with him.

“I worked as a janitor in college, and I understand the pride that comes with doing your job well, and her care, like everyone else at Gaylord, reflected the heart of this place,” he says.

Today, John continues to receive physical and occupational therapy as an outpatient at Gaylord’s North Haven clinic and enjoys weekly aquatic therapy sessions in the therapeutic pool at Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford.

“Every week, I witness incredible progress,” he says, visibly moved. “The changes I see in some of my fellow patients are nothing short of amazing!

“Gaylord isn’t just helping me recover, it has become a part of my life. I’m honored to represent my fellow patients of this extraordinary institution where miracles happen.”