Planting Trees for Future Generations
Generous Memorial Gift Benefits New Cancer Center
V
an Wyck Webb Jr. and Susan Hill dated for many years, enjoying a loving, happy relationship. They ate out, watched movies together, spent time in the mountains and at the beach and traveled to London and Spain on separate occasions.
“The nature component of it and having a place for respite and healing for people who are suffering with cancer was what appealed to him,” Bobbie said. “It’s not just the patient who’s ill and needs comfort; it’s also those who are involved daily with their care. He really wanted to honor Susan in this way.”
Hill was a staunch advocate of women’s rights who worked tirelessly for women’s reproductive health throughout the country. Slowing down wasn’t an option for her — until she was diagnosed with breast cancer, becoming a cancer patient at UNC REX under the care of Dr. Jeff Crane.
The Cancer Center is under construction and scheduled for completion in December 2021. The four-story, 144,000 square foot facility is expected to enhance and expand UNC REX’s full range of clinical oncology services, including infusion, radiation therapy and clinical trials. The new center will also provide increased space for a host of new services.
Sadly, she passed away at age 61 in 2010. “I’ve always been appreciative of what Dr. Crane did for Susan and think he helped her survive three years longer than she would have otherwise,” said Webb, who was devastated by her death. “I didn’t get to know him that well, but Susan very much counted on him for his expertise and decided she wasn’t going to try to find anybody else to treat her. She felt like he really cared.” To demonstrate his gratitude to UNC REX and to honor Hill, Webb, who is a retired insurance agency owner, has made one of the largest single lead gifts to the Cancer Center Campaign. “It is an honor to work with donors like Van Webb to personalize areas of the Cancer Center,” said Kay Taylor, Director of Strategic Philanthropy. “The garden space named for Susan Hill will create a place of beauty and healing for patients and caregivers far into the future.” Using his gift to create a garden makes perfect sense given Webb’s love of the outdoors and Hill’s love for gardening, said Frances Bobbie, his first cousin and financial advisor. She helped facilitate his gift to UNC REX.
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Susan Hill
When UNC REX opened its Cancer Center on the main campus in 1987 in response to a growing need in Wake County, it was a pioneering step for the organization. At that time, only a handful of oncologists practiced in Wake County. Today, dozens of physicians treat 3,000 patients annually at the main campus Cancer Center plus five satellite locations across Wake County. Associate Vice President for UNC REX Cancer Care Tom Grates said the new facility is vital to the continuation of the excellent care for which UNC REX is known. “The building that we’re currently operating out of was constructed 33 years ago,” Grates said. “It was a state-of-theart building at that time, but the number of patients that we’re caring for now has outgrown the limitations of the building. This new facility will be a state-of-the-art building but will be much larger and more attractive to our patients so that we can continue providing the same care but in a more conducive environment.” Grates is aware of Webb’s gift and says he thinks the Cancer Center will continue garnering strong community support.
