GREENFIELD — The physician and clown who inspired the 1998 film “Patch Adams” is in the middle of wrapping up a five-day masterclass on clowning at The Rowe Center and spent the weekend taking day trips to Greenfield nursing homes to perform and spread cheer.
Dr. Hunter Doherty “Patch” Adams and his wife, Susan Parenti, are in Franklin County for about the third time, bringing an ensemble of workshop participants to The Arbors, Poet’s Seat Health Care Center and Charlene Manor Extended Care to provide some entertainment.
“I’m a clown who is your doctor,” Adams said before performing at The Arbors on Friday afternoon. “I’ve been a clown for maybe 55 years, and a doctor for 51 years. I’ve never charged money for either.”
Adams, decked out in an outrageous clown costume and oversized shoes on Friday, got Hollywood’s attention due to his unorthodox model of holistic medical care and use of humor in medicine. He believes laughter is key to an individual’s overall health and well-being. Comedy legend Robin Williams portrayed Adams in the 1998 movie.
“We’ve had a very good relationship with (The Rowe Center), and we had a new show,” Parenti said, with an accordion around her neck. “So this is pretty much the second day we’ve done this. It’s called ‘The Ridiculous.’ Meaning we believe that clowning is way out there, but the ridiculous is really our hope for the future, meaning we’d better get this planet together now.”
Alana Calhoun, who started her job as The Rowe Center’s marketing manager six weeks ago, said she recruited Adams and Parenti “to bring joy.”
“It’s one on one. It’s the personal,” she said. “It’s the bringing out the special in someone else. And so it’s really nice to see.”
And it seems Adams and Parenti brought with them a dollop of serendipity, as Calhoun wound up talking with The Arbors resident Mary Helen New and learned they grew up in the same place — Grand Prairie, Texas.
“Hi, there. Need a lap?” Adams said, slapping his knee, to New as she walked by.
“I’ll think on that,” New replied with a smile. “I might think a long time.”
In 1971, Adams founded the Gesundheit! Institute, a nonprofit health care organization. From 1971 through 1983, it used a communal home as a hospital. Starting in 1984, Gesundheit! stopped seeing patients to dedicate time to raising money to build a free hospital, which Adams said is being developed in West Virginia. Care is free, no private or public insurance is accepted, and malpractice insurance is carried.
Adams said the surgeon and the cleaning staff will earn the same salary. Donations can be made online at bit.ly/3UFxseF.
“I think the capitalist system has really hurt humanity,” Adams said. “And also, for most of human history, there’s been a male-dominated society, which is all about money and power. And, if I had a magic wand, women would be in charge of everything for the next thousand years.”
Adams, who lives with Parenti in Urbana, Illinois, mentioned he has clowned in 82 countries and all 50 states to spread his message of people over profits.
“The way the world is, they’re much more focused on money and power, over others,” he said. “So that’s not good for anybody, even the ones who benefit from it.
“You know, your medical bill is the No. 1 reason you lose your home in this country,” Adams continued, adding that health care costs are the cause of 80% of bankruptcies.
More information is available at patchadams.org.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.