Superhero window washers return to Children's Hospital
By Adam Smeltz
Published: Wednesday, April 17, 2013, 2:15 p.m.
Like a high-flying sequel to a big-screen
blockbuster, window washers doubling as superheroes made a dramatic
return on Wednesday to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
This time, they had company.
Trailed by news crews, photographers and
hospital media gurus, the foursome from Allegheny Window Cleaning Inc.
of Springdale brought newfound celebrity to their rounds at Penn Avenue
and 45th Street in Lawrenceville. More than a half-dozen other
children's hospitals across the country have adopted the idea since
Allegheny Window workers suited up last fall as Batman, Captain America,
Spider-Man and Superman.
“I duck the spotlight. I say as little as I
can. But this has been overwhelming with what's happened on the
Internet,” company President Edward Matuizek said. “We probably were in
20 newspapers worldwide. It continues to fuel itself.”
For Naomi Kurzweg, 10, of Squirrel Hill, the surprise appearances lightened an appointment for blood work.
“I think my favorite was Spider-Man,” she said, grinning at the superheroes' choice of footwear: sneakers.
Matuizek's wife and company office manager
Michelle Matuizek saw a similar appearance at a British hospital and
suggested the costumes. With a blessing from Children's Hospital,
workers Rick Bollinger, 46, and Mark Errico, 26, both from Natrona
Heights, Ed Hetrick, 36, of Springdale and Jim Zaremba, 45, of New
Kensington morphed into comic-book alter egos to wash windows for two
hours on Oct. 22.
They expected to do it again this fall but
bumped up the appearance because of a request from the 296-bed UPMC
facility. Their four-hour session was better coordinated this time,
reaching more banks of windows and more young patients. Organizers plan
to make the visit a twice-yearly event.
“If the windows have to be washed, it might as well be done by superheroes,” said Naomi's mother, Anne Kurzweg, 42.
Tribune-Review photos from October drew a
following of thousands through social media. Michelle Matuizek said the
company received around 200 thank-you email messages from around the
world.
An observer from Crybaby Media, a New York
reality-TV firm, mingled with local journalists to watch the characters
rappel from a 12th-floor roof.
“It's about the kids and giving the kids an
environment where their health and welfare is the focus, but not just
from a medical perspective,” Children's facilities director Liz Munsch
said. “It gives them something else to enjoy and make it feel less like a
hospital.”
Katrina Koenig, 9, of Apollo darted among the windows, taking photos with an iPod as Batman dangled outside with a squeegee.
“It's really fun,” she said.
“Too bad we couldn't get his autograph on our doctor's excuse,” said her mother, Shawne Koenig, 41.
Adam Smeltz is a Trib Total Media staff writer. Reach him at 412-380-5676 or asmeltz@tribweb.com.
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