Many cancer patients travel from across the globe to receive care at the Mass General Cancer Center. The rigor of cancer treatment presents challenges under the best of circumstances, but can be particularly difficult for patients and their families who are away from the comforts of home. Eugene Ribakoff recognized this nearly a decade ago when he made a gift to support the hospital’s affordable lodging program at Beacon House, in memory of his late wife Corinne who was treated for cancer at Mass General.
Eugene, who passed away in April, his son Charles and daughter-in-law Patty refurbished the 22 units at the Beacon Hill brownstone and furnished them with new furniture and other necessities.
Additionally, the family established the Eugene and Corinne Ribakoff Cancer Patient Assistance Fund helping financially need patients with expenses for essentials, such as prosthetics, travel and lodging.
More recently, Eugene and his wife Stephanie helped support cancer programs at the Mass General Chelsea HealthCare Center, which brings medical care to vulnerable populations in Chelsea. They funded extended stays of visiting international oncologists at Mass General, where these professionals gained skills to improve medical care in their home countries. Eugene once said: “The more you do for MGH, the better you feel, and the more you want to do.”
