The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on Thursday, December 18, that will honor the memory of John Varkonda, the well-respected superintendent of the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest, who died suddenly on December 31, 2013 at the age of 55, despite the valiant efforts of emergency medical responders and the staff at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and Mass General.
“John required massive amounts of blood in the heroic efforts to save his life,” said Jane Varkonda, John’s wife and the Edgartown conservation agent. “I want to sponsor this drive in memory of John and in the hope that someone in need may be saved by the blood we collected on Martha’s Vineyard.”
The Red Cross blood drive will be held from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Portuguese-American (P-A) Club on Vineyard Avenue in Oak Bluffs. For an appointment call 1-800 Red Cross (733-2767) or go to redcrossblood.org.
