It is the simple things in life — like whistling — that Antonio “Tony” Gonzalez, B.S.C.E. ’68, misses the most.

The Miami developer, who once considered a career as an opera singer, had a sizable portion of his throat, including his vocal cords, removed in 2022 after being diagnosed with laryngeal cancer.

Having survived throat cancer back in 1996 after being treated with radiation, Gonzalez said this recurrence left him feeling shocked, depressed and afraid, especially after it was discovered that his cancer had metastasized to his lungs.

This is quite common in patients with head and neck cancers, according to Coral Olazagasti, M.D., the thoracic medical oncologist at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center who treated Gonzalez. She has chosen to focus her research on the importance of tailored lung cancer screening, especially for Hispanic head and neck cancer survivors.

Grateful for Dr. Olazagasti’s compassionate care, Gonzalez made a philanthropic gift to support her research.

“It is just a small token of gratitude for her efforts in finding, if not a cure, a way of providing a good way of life to others,” wrote Gonzalez, who communicates using a tablet but had a voice device implanted this fall to help him regain speech and better improve his quality of life. “I hope to keep giving more to this noble cause.”

As a Latina, Dr. Olazagasti considers this research focus her calling and was deeply touched by Gonzalez’s generosity.

“Anytime you have a patient give this type of donation, it really makes me emotional thinking about the impact I have on their life,” Dr. Olazagasti said. “I hope he knows that I am beyond appreciative. This is going to be put into good work that will improve the lives of many patients as we address disparities in lung cancer outcomes and screening rates.”

To support the head and neck cancer research fund, click here.