Twenty-two years ago, Irving Stenn, Jr. sat in the waiting room at the old Prentice Women's Hospital while his wife Marcia underwent a routine surgery in the nearby operating room. But in the midst of the procedure, her surgeon discovered malignant tissue. An uncomplicated surgery resulted in a devastating diagnosis of ovarian cancer. It was at this time that the Stenns first met John Lurain, MD, who would be their guide through the late Mrs. Stenn's ovarian cancer. The unexpected diagnosis hit the Stenns hard, yet even through this unspeakably difficult time, the Stenns found some comfort in helping others. "While Marcia took on the challenge of getting better, we wanted to make a difference," Mr. Stenn says. After talking it over with Dr. Lurain, the Stenns made their first of what would come to be many generous gestures, providing coffee for the office staff and patient visitors. With this small step to create a more comfortable waiting area, so began the Stenn family's journey with Dr. Lurain.

Marcia Stenn

With his involvement, the Stenn family's philanthropy evolved to help so many more patients and families suffering with ovarian cancer. Over the years, the Stenn Fund has afforded new equipment and laboratory technicians, provided seed money for novel research, funded researchers, and helped catapult the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine to international status. "It is all about Dr. Lurain," Mr. Stenn says. "He has such clinical and surgical ability, and is a wonderful human being. My respect for him guides this."

After years of supporting the division through the Stenn Fund, in 2008, the Stenn family launched a fundraising initiative to honor John Lurain with the Marcia Stenn Endowed Professorship in Gynecologic Oncology, the highest honor they could bestow upon a man with whom they entrusted the last twelve years of Mrs. Stenn's life. "The timing was right for us, our family. We wanted to establish something permanent, that we could grow while we support our other efforts," says Mr. Stenn, referring to his daughters' bi-coastal efforts to raise ovarian cancer prevention and awareness.

In addition to his personal donations, Mr. Stenn has actively advocated on behalf of the fund. By writing letters, hosting small fundraisers, and continually raising awareness of one of many less-publicized cancers, he has so encouraged others that the Stenn Professorship is now only $326,091 away from reaching its endowment goal of $2 million. Undoubtedly, Mr. Stenn's advocacy has played a critical role in this success.

"The more involved I have become, the greater number of causes I see there are to help. I support this cause because, for me, the fallout from this disease was not just about the disease, but how it affects you and your family. If we can get a handle on this, we can help patients live longer and make the quality of life better for so many. It is a chance to do some good, and get something good out of it."

For more information about ovarian cancer research, or to make a gift in support of the Marcia Stenn Endowed Professorship in Gynecologic Oncology, please contact Lauren Hughes at 312-503-4635 or lauren-hughes@northwestern.edu.