Former Bayonne Medical Center CEO dies

BAYONNE – Daniel Kane, the chairman of the Board of Directors of both CarePoint Health-Bayonne Medical Center and the CarePoint Health Foundation, died early Friday, May 8 after a long struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
“Dan was family to us. He was a mentor, and his courageous battle with this horrible disease has been an inspiration to the entire CarePoint community,” said CarePoint Health system owners in statement. “Losing him is devastating, but we cherish all of the years we’ve had him in our lives and we will continue to think about him constantly.”
A respected leader in the healthcare industry, Kane served as chief executive officer of various hospitals for more than 30 years, including more than four years as Bayonne Medical Center CEO. He was appointed to that post in January 2007. The hospital entered bankruptcy in April of that year, and Kane was instrumental in keeping the institution’s doors open.
As BMC exited bankruptcy, Kane continued in his role as CEO and guided the institution through the restructuring and stabilization process. He served as CEO of CarePoint Health—Bayonne Medical Center until he retired in 2012 due to his illness.
Kane had continued to be active in CarePoint Health system-wide management, attending a leadership meeting on May 7.
Beyond his extensive career as a hospital administrator, Kane also served as chairman of the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) and was a board member of the Simpson-Baber Foundation for the Autistic.
He received the NJHA’s Distinguished Service Award in 2010 and the Simpson-Baber’s Humanitarian Award in 2011.
Kane’s struggle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, inspired CarePoint Health to participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge, when 150 CarePoint Health employees, executives, and owners gathered last September to raise awareness of the disease. CarePoint dedicated its $15,000 donation to the ALS Association in Kane’s name.
A community memorial service will be planned for him.
Donations can be made to the ALS Association in honor of Kane.
Look for the story on Kane in the May 13 issue of the Bayonne Community News.