Board of Directors

We are in the process of developing a Board of Directors for the ECEF. Our plan is to invite people who can lead the ECEF in its attempt to achieve the goals that it has established for itself. We will ask people with varied backgrounds including Doctors, Medical Institutional Administrative People, Patients who have experienced esophageal cancer, and Care Givers who have walked the journey with family or friends who have had esophageal cancer.

Bart Frazzitta

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Having retired as Vice Chairman and CEO of Chiltignton International Inc as of December 31 2007, I can now devote more time to our Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation. Having been diagnosed with a stage 3 adenocarcinoma in December of 1999 my journey has taken me through Chemo Therapy, Radiation Therapy and Surgery all at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. With my wife Ginny of 44 years at my side, we created this Foundation to educate the public and medical community about this disease and to walk the journey with patients who have been diagnosed with this disease. Although our web site has gone through changes, the initial web site was the brain child of Dominic A. Carone a fellow patient who has subsequently died from this disease. In his memory and in our dedication to making a mark we have taken on this monster and hopefully we can make a difference.

Ginny Frazzitta

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I have been married to Bart since October of 1963 and we have two daughters and seven grandchildren. We have taken on the challenge of this dreaded disease and as a team we have worked together to get through this disease. Being a caregiver is a challenge unto itself and we have journeyed through the years of recovery from Bart’s initial diagnosis in December of 1999.

Our goal is to help make the public become aware of this disease. In addition we have been available to respond to questions that patients pose as quality of life issues as their journey continues through this disease. I have co chaired our fund raising event Day at the Races. It has been the backbone of our fund raising efforts since our first event in 2003.

Born and grew up in Brooklyn, New York, Annbeth raised her family in Northern New Jersey, and now calls New York City and Stockbridge, Massachusetts home. A graduate of Hunter College (BA) and Pace University (MBA) she spent most of her professional career working as a Human Resource executive for a number of major corporations. In May 2003, her husband Gerry was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the GE Junction (Esophages/Stomach). Knowing little about the disease, the family began the task of educating themselves, trying to understand why a supposedly healthy 65 year old man could suddenly have terminal cancer. The more they learned, the more they realized that Gerry, like so many others, had ignored for years many of the symptoms of this dreaded disease. Hoping to somehow do good from such a tragic loss, the family had raised money for research during Gerry's illness. Gerry passed away in July 2004, at which time Annbeth and her family became convinced that the most important thing they could do moving forward was to educate and raise the awareness of the public and the professionals to the warning signs of esophageal cancer . Having been introduced to Bart and Ginny in 2006, it was immediately obvious to everyone that we held similar goals and commitment to fighting this disease. Joining forces with ECEF, it is our sincere hope that we can truly make a difference, and bring us one step closer to a cure. "When God gives you lemons, make lemonade!"

Joanne Nicholas

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Joanne Nicholas learned the harsh facts about esophageal cancer while working on a project for NBC News as media relations manager for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. NBC wanted to do a piece for Nightly News and The Today Show about the alarming rise in one type of esophageal cancer. The survival rates were dismal - in part because most patients were unaware that their symptoms of heart burn or difficulty swallowing were the signs of a serious disease. While the expert physicians at Sloan-Kettering taught me about the disease, I learned about the quality of life issues from Bart Frazzitta who was our patient for the filmed piece. Working with Bart and then Ginny on subsequent media opportunities, I also learned how this disease affects not only the patient but their loved ones. The change in eating patterns, sleeping patterns and the unspoken fear of recurrence are a constant challenge for them. Unfortunately, I not only know about esophageal cancer now but have since lost friends and acquaintances to it with most diagnosed at an advanced stage. I have advised with Bart and Ginny on some of their efforts to help educate esophageal cancer patients so I did not hesitate to join the ECEF board. I believe that the foundation's mission to educate the public about this disease is one of the best weapons in diagnosing patients at a curable stage.

Richard Levy

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A native of Boston, Massachusetts (and now residing in New York City and Amagansett, NY), Richard was educated at Boston University and also holds an MBA in International Management. He met his life partner, Howard Lesman, in 1981 at a social event in the Hamptons. Even from the earliest days, Howard suffered from severe heartburn and acid reflux, constantly trying to alleviate the pain and discomfort through daily doses of over the counter drugs. What we thought was simply a minor problem and inconvenience turned into a full-blown nightmare when Howard was diagnosed with EC in May, 2003. Fourteen months later, in July of 2004, Howard was gone. "I am all too familiar with the pain and suffering of the EC patient, as well as that of the caregiver, and hope that this monstrous disease can one day be eliminated to spare others from going through this terrible experience. I hope that through my association with Bart Frazzitta and the ECEF that I can somehow make a small difference in the lives of others."