Frank Haskell, local hero for children with cancer, dies at 93

FORT MYERS, Fla. - July 21, 2023 - PRLog -- Frank Haskell, 93, co-founder of Barbara's Friends to support children with cancer, passed away on Wednesday, July 19. For the past 28 years, Haskell worked tirelessly to help local children win their battles with cancer and life-threatening blood disorders, supporting more than 10,000 children at Golisano Children's Hospital.

"Without Frank Haskell, the achievements we've made to advance pediatric cancer care in Southwest Florida would not be possible," said Dr. Emad Salman, VP and Chief Physician Executive – Children's Services. "He has saved the lives of thousands of children, forever impacting their families and our community."

Haskell retired in 1987 and relocated to Southwest Florida after a successful career in Boston and Texas. He was invited to join the development board for the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida in 1991.Haskell founded the cancer fund with his late wife Betty in 1995, naming the fund in memory of their daughter Barbara, who died at age 36 after a battle with cancer. Before Barbara died, she asked her parents to do more to help children fighting cancer, so they didn't have to suffer. The original goal was to raise about $100,000 with the fund in her name.

The Barbara's Friends Medical Library was established at HealthPark Medical Center in 1998. Barbara's Friends Pediatric Hematology Oncology Center on the fifth floor of HealthPark opened in 1999 to serve children until Golisano Children's Hospital was built in 2017. The Barbara's Friends permanent endowment was established in 2002.

Haskell and former Boston Red Sox president John Harrington also founded the golf tournament in 1994 that has raised $15 million to date for programs at Golisano Children's Hospital. He was honored by the Red Sox at Fenway Park on his 80th birthday.

In 2016, Lee Health Foundation established The Frank Haskell Humanitarian Award in his honor to recognize outstanding leadership in the advancement of quality health care.

Haskell helped establish Barbara's Friends scholarships in 2020 that are awarded annually to high school students who are childhood cancer or blood disorder survivors. So far, seven students have received scholarships.

Barbara's Friends funding also helped create Palmer the Turtle stuffed animals, coloring books and medical books, designed to entertain, comfort and educate cancer patients and their families. In March, the Haskell family donated the Haskell Total Immersion Room in Frank's honor at the Naples pediatric hematology oncology clinic, the only one in the country, offering children receiving chemotherapy and infusions a totally immersive virtual reality escape during treatment.

In Haskell's honor, Barbara's Friends will continue to advocate for children with cancer in Southwest Florida, by raising funds to support exceptional care at Golisano Children's Hospital. For information, visit BarbarasFriends.org.