A Positive Proclamation by Jon Nalick
Praising the USC/Norris Cancer Center staff's "excellence and professionalism," Connecticut entrepreneur Charles W. Costello and his wife, Carolyn, gave the USC/Norris a $2 million gift to establish a chair in colorectal diseases.
In January, Charles Costello, 60, underwent surgery at the USC/Norris to treat his ulcerative colitis, a condition that had grown steadily worse despite several operations elsewhere. Although his surgeons said his condition was practically untreatable, Costello said that he wanted to try one last surgery.
"I read up on Dr. Beart and found out that he may be the best in the U.S.-and that's what I wanted. When I met with him, he said he couldn't guarantee anything but he seemed very confident and I just felt, quite frankly, that I was in the best hands possible," Costello says.
The operation in January went well and Costello, a retired software businessman and Boston native, says that his positive experience with the USC/Norris spurred his and his wife's desire to fund the chair.
"I never knew about the USC/Norris until November 1998, but when I got there I was very pleasantly surprised. The whole staff seemed to be on top of everything. They were very caring and very professional and knowledgeable," he recalls.
"After 2-3 years of working with doctors who just seemed to be doing their job, I was really impressed that people at the Norris were not only doing their job, but doing research and trying to cure cancer-being entrepreneurial. I really like those kinds of people, being an entrepreneur myself," he says.
Costello says that he and his wife are pleased to give their gift to an institution waging the fight against cancer, noting that they had lost family members to the disease.
He adds that even if his gift does not directly result in a major breakthrough against colorectal diseases, "I think it's still fantastic to foster the spirit of commitment, dedication and focus to fight disease that will keep USC at the forefront."
