RUMFORD – For the last 15 years Dan Tremper has been Rumford Hospital surgical patients’ guardian angel in the operating room. As the head nurse anesthetist at the hospital, he has been called in at all hours for emergencies surgeries and Cesarean sections. He has held the hands and monitored the heartbeats of thousands of patients.

Now Tremper is going to take it easy. He and his wife Barbara, also a registered nurse, were feted at a farewell gathering on June 30. Rumford Hospital CEO John Welsh presented Tremper with an armchair with the hospital logo imprinted on the back. The operating room staff gave him a poster of memorable photographs and patient comments.

“We will miss Dan’s sense of humor,” said OR Nurse Manager Becky Hall, RN, “not to mention his unique headgear!” He is known for wearing colorful bandannas in the OR.

Tremper may be leaving a hole in hearts of his co-workers, but not in the staff of the OR. Several years ago he recruited Frank Hodsdon to work with him, and Nurse Anesthetist Lori Thibault is already on board.