Dec 11, 2019 A Lasting Legacy

A generous gift is supporting Oncology education for health care professionals.

Marano family

Patients who are being treated at the J. Phillip Citta Regional Cancer Center will benefit from the generosity of Mario A. Marano, who passed away on August 16, 2017. He made a bequest to Community Medical Center (CMC) to further oncology education and patient care. “He had a generous heart,” says his niece, Tania Larkin, of Freehold. “He wanted to do as much as he could for as many people as he could.”

Mario, who had been a resident of Toms River since 1976 and was married to Mary for 26 years, was passionate about all things Italian (he was born in Italy and emigrated to the U.S. in 1962). He served as a Commissioner for the New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission and was a charter member and past president of the Italian American Cultural Society of Ocean County. In 2009, he was inducted into the Italian-American National Hall of Fame and was named “Cavaliere” (knight) by the president of Italy for his support of Italian culture.

Mario, who was the principal buyer for the Purchasing Department of Ocean County, was also dedicated to his community. He was Chair of the Toms River Township Board of Health; Organizations and Groups Chairman for the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade Committee; and a member of the Ocean County Cultural Planning Task Force.

Improving Cancer Care

CMC is using the funds to send oncology nurses to seminars and conferences, which will ultimately improve patient care. Recently, three nurse navigators who work at the J. Phillip Citta Regional Cancer Center attended a “Navigator Summit” in Philadelphia, which was sponsored by the Oncology Nursing Society. Another navigator responsible for quality improvement will attend a conference in Washington, D.C. It will focus on topics such as clinical trials, quality standards and national accreditations.

“When generous individuals like Mr. Marano include CMC in their estate plans, it’s like we’re family,” says Richard J. Pallamary, Vice President for Development at CMC. “This wonderful gesture creates a lasting legacy and will touch so many lives. We are extremely grateful for his generosity.”

Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy or the elderly. Everyone should do it to properly ensure their intentions. For more information or to donate to the CMC Foundation, click here or call 732.557.8131.