The Leon Hess Cancer Center

Close ‘Family Ties’ Held at Leon Hess Multidisciplinary Cancer Center

Naming Monmouth Medical Center’s multidisciplinary cancer center in honor of the late philanthropist Leon Hess has special significance for his “extended” prominent New Jersey family, as well as for Monmouth Medical Center.

Before the founder of energy giant Amerada Hess Corp. died in 1999, he established the New York-based Hess Foundation, which today is led by Mrs. Leon (Norma) Hess, the sister-in-law of the late Jacqueline M. Wilentz — after whom Monmouth’s breast center is named. Jacqueline, who died of breast cancer, was the wife of Mrs. Hess’ brother — Robert Wilentz, former chief justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, who also lost his life to cancer.