Wednesday, April 16, 2025
The Esophageal Cancer Support Group of Philadelphia (ECSOP) wishes to express our deepest sympathies with the death of Rick Megaro, our co-founder, to his family and friends. Rick, and the late Bruce Morrison, founded the ECSOP to assist people through the difficult struggle of dealing with esophageal cancer and other esophageal diseases such as achalasia.
Esophageal cancer and other diseases of the esophagus often do not manifest until late, making treatment difficult. Doctors can diagnose and develop treatment, nurses and other technicians can implement treatment, but Rick and Bruce, having had the cancer themselves recognized that there was a need to provide information and support for patients on how to live with the disease. Esophageal disease does not discriminate, it strikes both sexes, all races and members of all faiths.
We actively work with patients before, during and after treatment. Rick and Bruce also recognized for the need to involve the family and friends to support the patients. We are often told by professionals at Penn that we are the best support for patients at the hospital. The group has followed the direction which Rick always preached - That No One Fights Cancer Alone. During his tenure, that support was extended to other diseases of the esophagus.
The group had quarterly meetings at Penn Medicine, often with informative talks by guest doctors and other medical professionals. When COVID prevented our group from meeting together, Rick was instrumental in arranging our quarterly Zoom meetings. Ironically, this week marks the first time since COVID that we would have an in-house meeting at Penn. We are further saddened as we had planned to award Rick with a plaque and the title of President Emeritus. The plaque will be given to his wife Angela in his staid.
Rick took great pride that our membership has grown to 300 members consisting of patients and their families. Another achievement of the group has been the creation of our website www.ecsop.org where victims of this disease can find sources of information and contacts to get help. That information is and will be free to all who visit. Our group has helped people as far as the Mid-West in this country and Germany abroad. All never would have happened without the inspiration and hard work of Rick and our other co-founder.
There are no words to express our deep sense of loss at Rick's passing; we will miss his wisdom and caring; we hope that it is of comfort to know that the work of the ECSOP will continue and be part of Rick’s ongoing legacy.
We are grateful for all he has done for us. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the Megaro Family. May our friend and co-founder rest in peace!
Roy Wood, Jr.
Board Member and Secretary
