from The State back in January: Love, faith, provide armor in cancer fight for Maddens

Love, faith, provide armor in cancer fight for Maddens

In memory of Mr. Herman Madden.

The New York Times: George MacPherson, Theater Producer, Dies at 78

George MacPherson, a theater producer who helped bring down the curtain on bus-and-truck road shows and usher in the big-box-office age of polished national touring companies, died on Wednesday in Orangeburg, S.C., where he lived. He was 78.

The cause was lung cancer, said his daughter, Morag.

Mr. MacPherson, who got his first taste of show business glamour as a veterinarian with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, helped theater producers maximize returns on their shows by sending out touring companies with high production values and first-rate performers to markets beyond the big cities.

This approach, restructured in the early 1980s at American Theater Productions, where he was executive director, led to increased subscription sales and a boom for the tour business, which nearly doubled its gross revenues from 1988 to 1991.

“In those days, touring was pretty rudimentary,” said Miles Wilkin, the chief executive of the tour producer Broadway Across America. “George was adept at working with New York producers, acquiring shows and then realizing their full potential on the road.”

Read more.

The New York Times: Constantine Papadakis, Drexel University President, Dies at 63

Constantine N. Papadakis, the president of Drexel University, died on Sunday, three days after taking medical leave. He was 63.

The cause was pulmonary complications of lung cancer, which was in remission, a statement from Drexel said. Dr. Papadakis raised the endowment, enrollment and profile of Drexel, a onetime commuter school.

Read more.

Former Argentine President Raul Alfonsin dies

Raul Alfonsin, the Argentine president who guided his country's return to democracy following a military dictatorship that left thousands missing, died on Tuesday. He was 82.

Alfonsin's personal doctor, Alberto Sadler, said he died of lung cancer. The government declared three days or mourning.

Read more.

Ex-studio boss behind 'Heaven's Gate' dies at 70

Former United Artists movie executive Steven Bach, who oversaw the 1980 debacle "Heaven's Gate" and later wrote a memoir about it, has died.

Bach, who spent the last decade teaching literature at Bennington College, died of lung cancer March 25 at his home in Arlington, agent Robert Lescher said Tuesday. He was 70.

Read more.

Tom Glassey loses brave battle with cancer

Born in Castletown in 1953, Tom lost his sight as a baby after he contracted cancer in one eye — the cancer also threatened his other eye.

Diagnosed with lung cancer just over a year ago, an instinctive writer, he chartered his battle in a blog that was aimed at persuading smokers to give up the habit that caused his own condition.

The blog was read by tens of thousands of people around the world and recommended by doctors to their cancer patients. Relentlessly upbeat, philosophical and humorous, his words led readers on a journey that was, despite everything, an inspiration.

In this month's issue he described embarking on the second round of chemotherapy treatment and wrote: "I know that some of you may feel that you are in a hopeless situation right now. I know what that feels like, I have been there."

"To be without hope is to have nothing. Yet no matter how damn hopeless life appears, the door can open at any time and you simply have no control of who might pass through it."

The New York Times: Alan Landers, Winston Man, Dies at 68

By DOUGLAS MARTIN
Published: March 3, 2009

Alan Landers, who started smoking at 9 and became a model for advertisements of Winston cigarettes and Tiparillo cigars, then contracted lung cancer and became a highly visible crusader against smoking, died Friday at his home in Lauderhill, Fla. He was 68.

Robin Levine Carns, a niece, said the cause was complications of treatment for cancer of the larynx, which Mr. Landers attributed to smoking, as he did his two lung cancers and heart disease.

LCA Mourns the Passing of Karen Parles, Beloved Friend and Pioneering Advocate Who Changed the Face of Lung Cancer

Tuesday, February 17, 2009--Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) President & CEO Laurie Fenton-Ambrose issued the following statement today in honor of Karen Parles of Setauket, New York, who died after an 11 year battle, of lung cancer on February 16, 2009:

The entire lung cancer community is deeply, deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved friend and passionate advocate who did more than any other to provide critical information and build public awareness for lung cancer.

Karen was a vivacious 38 year old wife and mother who had never smoked or was otherwise exposed to known carcinogens in her life and was stunned to learn she had lung cancer in 1998. Searching online for answers she recognized the need for far more information than was available at that time.

A Williams College graduate, she put her Master of Library Science degree in service to all those affected by lung cancer by starting the highly acclaimed “lungcanceronline.org” a carefully researched source of information which evaluated, annotated and indexed high-quality lung cancer resources and services. Her website was written up in several medical journals and magazines.

In addition to being the founder and editor of the online information service, for several years she expanded her foundation to award grants to promising research projects.

She also co-authored a highly respected guide entitled; 100 Questions & Answers About Lung Cancer which has been distributed to thousands affected by the disease.

In 2005, Karen received the Catherine Logan Award for outstanding service to survivors from the National Coalition of Cancer Survivors.

And in 2005, Karen agreed to be the “Face of Lung Cancer” in LCA’s first national awareness campaign by appearing in an ad that ran in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and other Washington based public policy journals.

This ad literally changed the face of lung cancer and exposed the stigma of smoking that has thwarted research funding and so unfairly caused lung cancer patients to be blamed for their disease whether they smoked or not.

During all this time, she continued her treatments which became increasingly difficult although she never complained about the physical toll. Her primary concern was always first and foremost for her family: her beloved husband James, a pediatrician, her children Casey and Christopher whom she was determined to see into college, and her parents, Shirley and Howard deLong.

Even as her cancer progressed, Karen continued her selfless contributions through enrollment in clinical trials. She was determined to turn her experience into a benefit for her fellow patients and those at risk for the disease.

We are deeply grateful for the years of support, sage advice and counsel that Karen provided us.

We will always admire her courage and grace.

On behalf of the entire LCA staff and stakeholders, I extend our deepest sympathy to Jamie, Casey and Christopher, and to her parents. We will honor Karen’s life by renewing our commitment to her goal of changing the course of lung cancer -- forever.

Thank you, Karen. We will miss you.

Lung Cancer Alliance Mourns the Loss of Board Chairman Rear Admiral Philip J. Coady, USN (Ret.)

...he was our hero, who led Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) with the same unflinching conviction and steady purpose as he did when commanding naval destroyers, cruisers and battleship groups.
Indeed, he was uniquely qualified for this assignment. He was an avid hiker, rower and outdoor enthusiast. As a non-smoker, Admiral Coady never imagined himself as someone at risk for lung cancer.
The rude shock of his unexpected diagnosis spurred him to investigate the disease, its treatment and the status of efforts to find a cure. He was stunned at what he learned -- especially the fact that few cancer research dollars spent by the Veterans Administration and U.S. Department of Defense were directed at lung cancer, even though it is the largest cause of cancer deaths among Veterans.
Admiral Coady immediately set to work and resolved to help permanently change public perceptions and public health funding for lung cancer research. He engaged Congress, Agency officials, national media, and business leaders on the need to increase compassion and support for the entire lung cancer community. He commanded attention – and got it - as just last week the first-ever lung cancer research funding legislation was introduced in the United States Senate.
Admiral Coady was an extraordinary man – a natural born leader. He exuded confidence, determination and purpose. He was principled, compassionate, honorable, and resolute. He sought truth and justice. It was easy to “fall in behind” as he led with such dignity, intelligence and grace. He was -- simply put – a “cut above”.
Laurie Fenton Ambrose
President & CEO
Lung Cancer Alliance

Yerington plaintiff in Wyeth case dies at 65

BY MARTHA BELLISLE of the Reno Gazette-Journal • mbellisle@rgj.com

June 21, 2008

One of three Northern Nevada women who recently was awarded millions in damages against pharmaceutical giant Wyeth has died.

Pamela Forrester of Yerington died Thursday at noon, said one of her Reno lawyers, Geoff White. She was under hospice care for her lung cancer, he said. She was 65.
Forrester, Arlene Rowatt, 67, of Incline Village and Jeraldine Scofield, 74, of Fallon, were awarded $58 million after a jury found that Wyeth drug, Prempro, used to counter menopausal symptoms, caused their breast cancer.
The jury initially ordered Wyeth to pay $134 million, but Washoe District Judge Robert Perry ruled that the verdicts were the "result of passion and prejudice" and should be lowered.
The $58 million remains the highest amount awarded yet as Wyeth faces thousands of similar cases across the country. Wyeth has appealed the verdict to the Nevada Supreme Court.
"One of her best events was her ability to get some degree of justice from Wyeth even though she knew she was going to die," White said.

WMFX’s rock loses battle with cancer

MIKE SCOTT 1962-2008

By OTIS R. TAYLOR JR. - otaylor@thestate.com

When Charles Wilkie, a local booking agent and concert promoter, thinks of classic rock, one person comes to mind: Mike Scott.
Scott, the WMFX-FM Fox 102.3 afternoon DJ, died of lung cancer Wednesday morning at age 46.
“He always cared about how the shows did, and that meant a lot to me,” Wilkie said.
Scott, whose real last name was Uischner, began his career at the classic rock Fox in 1988, a year after the station started broadcasting.
For more than 15 years, it was Scott’s voice that introduced segments with the familiar “Aah, Fox.”
“He was one of the true lovers of classic rock,” said Benji Norton, who hosts “The Early Game” on 107.5 The Game.

Another article on the loss of Jerry Fowler by Bill Robinson of The State:Jerry Fowler, innovative broker dies

In early 2007, Fowler was diagnosed with lung cancer and won the admiration of many for persevering with a busy schedule of 14-hour work days in spite of debilitating treatments. Fowler even posted a set of “before and after” photographs of himself with and without hair.Fowler sold real estate in the Columbia area for nearly two decades and in 1998 coined the slogan “the Results Team” to describe his newly formed company and its employees.
For the past 17 years, he was a regular on WVOC radio, offering real estate and related advice weekdays. He also was host of a talk show on Saturday mornings that focused on the subject.
“He’s been so much more than a radio host,” said L.J. Smith, programming and operations director for Clear Channel radio in Columbia. “He’s been mentor, adviser, friend, advocate and leader — not only his radio audience, but to those who’ve worked in this building with him.”
“His optimism was unrivaled,” Smith said. “While battling through his sickness, he was continually planning and looking toward the future of his life, both personally and professionally. He had plans for another radio show in the works, laying plans right up to just a week or two ago.”

The State reports Radio Realtor loses battle with cancer

Bill Robinson of The State newspaper reported that Jerry Fowler of Chapin, a self-employed real estate broker who pioneered the use of radio in the Columbia area to educate the public about buying and selling property, died Thursday, May 15th, a spokesman for the Lexington-Richland 5 school system said.
Fowler, 61, conducted a public battle with lung cancer and kept a diary of the ups and downs of his treatment. Until being hospitalized recently, the weekly installments were published in an Irmo weekly newspaper and posted on his company’s web site.

The State reports Beatles' friend Neil Aspinall dies at 66

Neill Aspinall, a longtime friend of the Beatles who managed their business enterprises and helped make the group a moneymaking phenomenon decades after they split up has died of lung cancer at the age of 66.

The New York Times reports that Rafael Tufiño, Artist, Is Dead at 85

Rafael Tufiño, a painter and printmaker considered one of Puerto Rico’s most prominent cultural figures, died on Thursday in San Juan. He was 85 and lived in Old San Juan.

Richard J. Durrell, First Publisher of People Magazine, Dies at 82 by: Julie Creswell of The New York Times

Richard J. Durrell, the founding publisher of People magazine, died on Friday at his home in Fairfield, Conn after battling lung cancer. He was 82.

Barbara Seaman, 72, Dies; Cited Risks of the Pill by: Margalit Fox of New York Times

Barbara Seaman, a writer and patients’ rights advocate who was one of the first people to bring the issue of women’s reproductive health to wide public attention, died on Wednesday at her home in Manhattan after a battle with lung cancer.

NY Times: Jeff Healey, Guitarist and Singer, Dies at 41

Honoring Mr. Caine Halter of the Greenville Area

The real estate firm Coldwell Banker Commercial recently named an annual, national industry leadership award after Mr. Caine Halter, a prominent Greenville real estate executive who was president of Coldwell Banker Commercial Caine. Halter passed away in August of 2007 after valiantly battling lung cancer.