The cherry wood plaque on the wall reads, “In Memory of Kenneth Williams.” Williams may have lost his fight against cancer, but the people he worked with will never forget him. Neither will the staff of The Regional Cancer Center’s Outpatient Infusion Unit where the plaque hangs.

Williams was a business manager for many years with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 43. Together with the National Electrical Contractor Association (NECA), IBEW is a Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Foundation Business Partner. When Williams was diagnosed with cancer, he came to The Regional Cancer Center.

“Ken always told us how wonderfully everyone treated him at the Cancer Center,” said Patrick Costello, business manager for IBEW. “He had a great relationship with the staff. You could tell they really cared about him. He had nothing but good things to say about the Center. That’s why IBEW and NECA support the Stomp Out Cancer Telethon. It’s also why we donated funds to build the Outpatient Infusion Unit and dedicated it to Kenneth.”

“We’re fortunate to have such a high-caliber Cancer Center right here in Utica,” said Marilyn Oppedisano, manager at NECA. “We believe in the great work done at the Cancer Center and are committed to our partnership with the Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Foundation for many years to come.”

Costello feels that giving to Faxton-St. Luke’s is like a big circle. “I doubt there’s a person out there today who hasn’t had a family member, friend or co-worker diagnosed with some form of cancer,” he said. “The better we make the place that provides the services, the better it will be if someone we know or love needs help in the future.”