When Monica Warner, CCF’s Director of Development and Research Coordinator, died suddenly on August 7, 2009, the carcinoid/NET community lost one of their most staunch advocates. In an overwhelming demonstration of admiration, respect, and love, Monica has since been honored in many ways.
Expressions of sympathy and donations to CCF in Monica’s memory have come from people everywhere in the world. Read some of the beautiful comments about Monica that visitors to http://www.legacy.com (this link is still working so please click on it to view the Guest Book) left on the Guest Book. The Guest Book can be viewed and comments left through September 8, 2010.
An extraordinary tribute was the dedication of the 2009 National Carcinoid/NET Patient Conference in New Orleans to Monica. According to Dr. Eugene Woltering, “Monica Warner was a world-class educator, an international neuroendocrine tumor resource and a classy lady. Damn, I will miss her and her twinkling eyes.” A beautiful portrait of Monica, based on a photograph taken by Dr. Woltering at a previous national conference, was given as a gift to Monica’s beloved husband, Dr. Richard R.P. Warner, from Drs. Thomas and Sue O’Dorisio.
In recognition of Monica’s outreach to patients through her leadership at the Carcinoid Cancer Foundation, Novartis Oncology created the Warner Advocacy Award. The award was given to Monica posthumously at the National Carcinoid/NET Patient Conference in September. Dr. Mildred Ortu Kowalski, Novartis Oncology’s Director of Patient Advocacy and External Affairs, presented the award to Dr. Warner at the conference. Dr. Kowalski said, “We hope that the creation of the advocacy award will be viewed as a tribute to Monica’s vision of helping patients. As Novartis Oncology continues to work to improve the lives of patients with cancer, we also will continue to honor Monica’s memory by presenting the Warner Advocacy Award each year.”
Monica Warner’s legacy will live on through her work at the Carcinoid Cancer Foundation and in the carcinoid/neuroendocrine tumor community. She touched the lives of carcinoid/NET patients, their families and friends, as well as members of the medical community — with whomever she spoke and everywhere she went.
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