Dr. Thomas B. Tomasi, Jr. president and CEO of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center from 1986 to 1996, died on March 23. He was 97.
Dr. Tomasi came to Roswell in the mid-80s, at a time when the leadership was stagnant, and the future of the hospital and its very mission were in question. Tom and his team brought transformative ideas to the institute, reviving the importance of both basic and clinical research and its connection to excellence in patient care through the recruitment of strong and administrative leadership and a cadre of excellent physicians.
His efforts were recognized by repeated NCI cancer center core grants and consistent top ratings in the “U.S. News and World Report” ranking of cancer centers. He recognized the regional and national reputation of the institute was aided by strong fellowship training programs, and supported the successful grants enabling those programs. It was his idea and encouragement that led to the formation of the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, which rapidly became a pillar of community interest for Roswell, providing both loyalty and financial support for the research programs.
He was thoughtful and soft-spoken, but firm in maintaining high standards for the institute’s recruitment, productivity, and maximizing faculty participation in national cancer organizations. During his tenure, other cancer centers recruited their leadership from the ranks of Roswell’s faculty to positions as department chairmen and center directors, recognizing the quality of his assembled staff.
He was thoughtful and soft-spoken, but firm in maintaining high standards for the institute’s recruitment, productivity, and maximizing faculty participation in national cancer organizations.
Tom would recognize problems facing the institute and generate constructive collaborative solutions as a core strategy for his leadership style. Excessive fanfare and superficial publicity were antithetical to his effective leadership. He shared and relished in the recognition of institute staff appreciating the fact that they were the core of the center of excellence he hoped to rebuild.
On a personal note, Tom was a congenial friend, a research scientist with the highest standards, and an administrator unafraid to recognize both contributions and deficiencies among his operational colleagues. When younger, he was competitive on the tennis court and the ski slopes. He was loyal to his family and friends but unafraid of expressing concern over our shortcomings. He truly made all of us better people for our associations with him. To Barbara and other family members, you have our sympathy, and thanks for your generosity in sharing Tom with all of us.
The author is Emeritus professor of oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Clinical professor of medicine at the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Professions, SUNY at Buffalo
