Milford chronicle., 1961-08-25
Four Out Of Six
Brothers Nurses
By MARY CAMPBELL
APP NeMSieafnreS Writer

al ANN
you know what attitude people
have to man being a nurse"
Bob Specht says to his five other
brothers during a kitchen table
discussion at John and Perry
Specht's Long Island home.
They ask me what l do and
tell them. A lot of people don't
say anything. They just don't be-
lieve it,"
Yes, they know how it is. Four
Of the six brothers ARE male
nurses, two wed psychiatric aides.
and another took a dental assistant
for his bride.
All except brother Richard go
to work in crisp white linens. He,
being 16, hasn't made up his mind
about a career yet.
The Specht brothers with their
medical minded wives have homes
in Central Islip Township. near
two state mental hospitals where
everybody works.
Roll Call
John, "a, tall, slender and quiet,
is staff attendant in charge of five
psychiatric aides and ward OF
SO violent male patients. His tiny
wife Peggy, 3S, is a psychiatric
aide.
Bob, 81. r. N. was the first
Specht, in 194S, to work in men,
tai hospital. He gives first aide
lessons to 1900 psychiatric aides
His wife, Pat, %, is psychiatric
aide to teen-age girl.
Ted, q, r. n, is instructor of
disaster training procedures to
aides. His wife Barbara is assist
ant to the hospital dentist.
Calming Influence
Allan, %, r. ~, is head nurse
of a mems admission ward, super
vising 10 aides. His wife Pat, also
r. ~, is head nurse in a male
geriatrics ward.
Bob explains. "They don't have
men working on female wards be-
cause you cant trust women pa
tienrs. They're aggressive when it
comes to men. But women work
on male wards. A man patient
tends to be on his best behavior
it, there's a woman around"
Arthur, r. ~, Adams twin in
structs incoming psychiatric aides.
His wife, Eileen,21, r. n, is an
operating room nurse
Richard, 16, quiet, mature
high school sophomore. is present
ly interested in automobile motors
Proud Mother
Mrs. Theora Specht, "a, mother
OF the six sons, is visiting them
and she is from Vero Beach. Fla.
Her husband, John, died last win
ter.
For man, nursing is hard, !"
Bob declares. "A man is supposed
TO support a family but the sal
aries are so low, all our wives
have to work" Zach of the five
Specht men also holds a second
job. Four do nursing in general
hospitals and John works for the
Post Office)
You're on call "a hours a day
when you're a nurse" Bob, big
mani feet 4, over 200 pounds
earnestly explains, but with
out complaint. 1--WE take the Flor
ence Nightingale oath. Anybody il
need of help can call any tims
and we're supposed to 60" They
do, too.
Family Kidding
Mrs. Specht slips off her shoes
drinks ice tea and listens to hel
sons-"You have to be a dedicated
person to be a nurse, / don't cart
what anybody says-We're a very
close knit family. The boys car
argue about the merits Of various
training methods first thing you
know the wives are in on it
But they never get mad"
Hearing that, Bob remarks, EAR.
que? We never argue"
His wife Peggy Shoes everybody
outside to the barbecue. A youne
neighbOr woman comes over, falls
down and runs to a psychiatrit
aide (instead of a male nurse)
with her skinned knee. The aides
their wives, gleefully find plent,
TO say.
After supper conversation drifts
touching on tomato patches, theil
Late father, three Robins nests.
But the Specht family cannot Ions
stay away from their favorite sub
ject-nursing.