Meet Our Donors
Marie and Chuck Chilcott
Heartfelt Thanks
Whenever Marie Chilcott thinks of her late father, Peter Caruso, she thinks of Lankenau with a grateful smile.
She still remembers the day in 1963 when her then 53 year-old father, who lived in Ridley Park and worked in South Philly for most of his life, had been having pain down his left arm and had an attack on the way to work. Marie rushed him to the nearest medical center, which he loved, since it was close to his old neighborhood and everyone could come see him. However, despite numerous tests and a stay of several weeks, they couldn't discover what was wrong with him. With his stay about to end, Marie told the medical center either find out what is wrong with her father or discharge him. They discharged him.
In frustration, Marie and her mother turned to their family doctor, Earl Daugherty, MD. Marie described Dr. Daugherty as an amazing man who was brilliant and wonderful - "as long as you did what he said," she commented with a chuckle.
Following his examination of her father, Dr. Daugherty sent Peter to Lankenau to see James Daly, MD who ordered a stress test. Noting Peter’s chest pain, Dr. Daly catheterized him, which at that time was a risky procedure. The test revealed problems with his aortic valve, so he was scheduled for surgery with George J. Haupt, MD, who began Lankenau's cardiac surgical program in 1961 by repairing congenital heart defects and valves. Marie recalls that her father was scheduled to receive a mechanical replacement but at the last minute was told he would be receiving a human replacement, "a perfect fit" she recalls with a smile. The prognosis following surgery was that Peter would have some additional years of life with about 50% in pain relief. Amazingly, Peter lived an almost pain-free life for ten years and was even able to help Marie's husband, Chuck, paint their house. His caregivers at Lankenau were equally amazed and asked him to return for years so they could monitor his progress. Eventually, however, Peter had a stroke and died on June 5, 1973.
Peter Caruso
Marie never forgot the added years and quality of life Lankenau gave her father. It was only natural that she thought of benefiting Lankenau through her estate plans. It was her way of expressing her heartfelt thanks. Having no children, she and Chuck decided to leave the bulk of their estates to charity. In Marie's case, she has chosen to create a legacy at Lankenau that will provide ongoing support for heart research through the Marie Chilcott Endowment.
Marie and Chuck are using a popular technique common in estate planning today - the living trust - as a cornerstone for their plans. The trust is structured to serve their needs during their lifetimes and also the needs of Marie's aunt, should she survive them. Following their lives, the portion of the trust's remainder or principal designated for Lankenau will be transferred to establish the Chilcott Endowment at the Lankenau Medical Center.