Ten Years and more; The Wonder of it All

Written by Jeff Bailey

Friday, 13 October 2006

Smiles, laughs, music hugs and love surrounded Dr. Mel Thursday night as his friends, family and co-workers came together to celebrate his tenth anniversary of surviving Multiple Myeloma, and to raise money for the Dr. Mel Goldstein Multiple Myeloma Research Fund at the Yale Cancer Center. Ron Shaw, a close friend and president of Pilot Pen Corporation of America who helped organize and underwrite the event, told Mel and his guests the fund has now doubled to more than $200,000. "You're a real mensch," Dr. Mel told Shaw, using the Yiddish term for human being, a person with honor and integrity. With music from John Pizzarelli and a quartet of jazz musicians who've played with the likes of Rosemary Clooney and Frank Sinatra, political leaders mingled with business men and women and all of Mel's friends to share laughs and stories and show their love for this remarkable man. Sitting in a big, overstuffed red chair, Dr. Mel, a jazz lover himself, tapped his toes and smiled lovingly at his wife Arlene at his side as Pizzarelli and the band performed songs by Gershwin, Sammy Cahn and Johnny Mercer, including "Route 66" and "Witchcraft". Mel also performed a song he had written specifically for the occasion, titled "The Circle," and then stayed at the piano for another tune with a group of musicians he never thought he'd have the opportunity to play with. And it was obvious to all that Mel would have been happy playing well into the wee hours of the morning. Along with the music and laughs were some very special messages of thanks and prayer. Gov. Jodi Rell, who is also a cancer survivor, left a videotaped message praising Dr. Mel's spirit and success battling his cancer. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro each delivered proclamations honoring Mel for all he has done. Dr. Richard Edelson, director of the Yale Cancer Center, thanked Mel for all of his work he has done for the center, including his hosting of the annual Cancer Survivors Day. News Channel 8's Jocelyn Maminta started to tear up as she described the smile and courage that masks the constant pain that Mel feels each day. The event was held at the New Haven Lawn Club on Whitney Avenue. Donations to the Dr. Mel Goldstein Multiple Myeloma Research Fund are tax deductible.

 

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