Pamela L. McGaan

Pamela L. McGaan, age 50, died peacefully at home on Good Friday, March 25, 2016, after a five year struggle with metastatic breast cancer. She was the mother of three wonderful children: Duncan A. McGaan, a junior at Davidson College; Molly A. McGaan, a freshman at the University of Michigan; and Finn O. McGaan, a seventh grade student at the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago. Pam was born in Ft. Riley, Kansas to Duncan W. O’Dwyer and Alice Hayman O’Dwyer, while her father was serving in the U.S. Army’s First Infantry Division. She and her bother Jeffrey S. O’Dwyer were raised in Pittsford, New York. Pam was graduated from Pittsford-Mendon High School and obtained a B.S. from Cornell University where she was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority and directed the women’s a cappella group, The Touchtones. At Cornell she met her husband, Andrew R. McGaan, a Cornell graduate and at the time a second year student at Cornell Law School. In 1990, Pam moved with her husband to Chicago where all three of her children were born and raised. Pam and Andy first lived in an apartment on Lake Shore Drive, later moved to a home in the Lakeview neighborhood, and then built a home in the Ravenswood neighborhood where she was living at her death.

Before her children were born, Pam worked as an account executive at Leo Burnett. While raising children, Pam was an active member of Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago where she taught Sunday school and participated in leadership. Her faith in God was an important and inspiring part of her life. She was an active fundraiser for a number of charities, including the Foundation for Retinal Research supporting Leber’s Syndrome research, and the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, inspired by close friends touched by those diseases. She was an enthusiastic and active member of the women’s boards of the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation and the Chicago Symphony. A gifted singer, Pam studied jazz and operatic singing at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY and jazz singing at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music. She recorded a CD of jazz standards and at the time of her death was working on a recording of spiritual folk and Americana songs. Pam was a director of The Casino Club and a member of the Racquet, Saddle & Cycle, and Women’s Athletic Clubs in Chicago.

Pam is remembered by her family and legions of friends as a loving woman, loyal friend and the first to be at hand helping others with their problems and concerns. She inspired affection and admiration because of her love of a great party (she threw many great parties), her quick and easy laugh, and her zest for life. She was an especially talented and loving mother who believed in strict discipline for her children and smothered them with love and affection. Her passing is mourned by many, but all who knew her were enriched and made better for having had that joy.

All are invited to share in a celebration of Pam's life this Friday April 1st at 2pm at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E, Chestnut in Chicago. The main entrance is on Michigan Ave. between Delaware and Chestnut. A reception will follow the service at The Casino Club, 195 E. Delaware, one block east of the church. Please note: The Casino requires a coat and tie for gentlemen.

Pam was diagnosed in February 2011 with breast cancer and leptomeningeal metastases. Dr. Rosen was the director of the Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern and, to our great fortune, spearheaded Pam's care. But as anyone who has had the privilege of working with him knows, he did far more.

Dr. Rosen gave Pam hope and courage. He inspired her and our family with his optimism and the way he cared for Pam. We have never met another doctor like him. Fear and uncertainty are among the many difficult challenges of a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Rosen embraced Pam and showed her light in dark times. He helped her to long outlive a dire prognosis. Even though Dr. Rosen is no longer at Northwestern, his research and his inspiration to cancer patients will benefit all of us.

If you are so inclined, in lieu of flowers or other tributes, we ask that you remember Pam by supporting Dr. Rosen's work. Here's how:

(1) Send a check to “City of Hope” at City of Hope, attn: Annual Giving,1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010. (Please note the gift is in memory of Pam McGaan); or

(2) Call the City of Hope Annual Giving office at (866) 683-4673; or

(3) Give on-line: cityofhope.org/pam