Dorothy Coleman joined the Cancer Center in 1981 as a research nurse coordinator and retired in 2014 as the clinical trials office ( CTO ) manager . As CTO manager , her contributions were critical to the enrollment of cancer patients onto hundreds of national clinical trials in the absence of a centralized cancer treatment facility at the UH Cancer Center .
Dorothy loved and was involved in everything related to oncology , both locally and nationally . She was a founding member of the Oncology Nursing Society Hawai ‘ i ( O ‘ ahu ) chapter . After retiring in 2014 , Dorothy returned to the Cancer Center the following year as a part-time clinical research associate , conducting long-term follow up of clinical trial participants and continuing to instruct and mentor new staff .
Dorothy was recognized for dedicating her career to improving cancer care . She served on the board of directors of the Hawai ‘ i Society for Clinical Oncology that awarded her with their inaugural Nursing Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 . At the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program ( NCORP ) 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting in August , Dorothy was honored as “… an exemplary model of what it means to be an outstanding administrator …” with the annual NCORP Administrator Award that was renamed the ‘ Dorothy Coleman Outstanding Administrator Award ’.
Dorothy passed away on May 22 . She is remembered fondly as she fostered many friendships with colleagues , staff , and patients throughout her career at the UH Cancer Center .
Clara Richards began working at the UH Cancer Center in the Cancer Epidemiology Program in July 1985 as a research interviewer . Her role was to elicit community participation and obtain accurate information for the program ’ s cancer research studies . This task was not meant for just anyone , and Clara ’ s warm , sincere , and gentle nature made her an outstanding research interviewer . Her valuable efforts over the years contributed to international recognition of the Cancer Center ’ s research . She leaves a lasting legacy of a better understanding of cancer in diverse populations that will continue to benefit future generations .
Fitness , music , and hula were a big part of Clara ’ s life . Clara regularly joined the qi gong and hula classes held in the Cancer Center ’ s Wellness Center . Music came naturally to Clara — she taught herself to sing and play the ukulele , and with only a few piano lessons , she could play by ear . As a dedicated member of the Windward Choral Society , she was excited that the choir was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in 2020 . Sadly , her dream never came true because the performance was canceled due to COVID-19 . Clara passed away on August 25 .
Clara , a respected colleague , a good friend , someone who was always cheerful and friendly , and always wore a smile on her face , is affectionately remembered . She exemplified the true aloha spirit and is dearly missed .
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