Alan Fink
Alan L. “Alf” Fink died Wednesday, April 13, 2005 after a long battle with GIST. He was 45. Alan was diagnosed
in September of 2000. He had surgery weeks later, and also underwent a then-new
clinical procedure called photodynamic therapy, which involves using lasers to burn
tumor cells after administration of a drug that makes the cancer more sensitive
to the laser treatment. After the cancer returned eight months later, Alan joined the phase III clinical trial of Gleevec for GIST. When Gleevec failed him after
a year, he volunteered for the SU11248 trial, which didn’t work for him. He also
tried combining the relatively new antiangiogenesis drug Avastin with Gleevec, and
Avastin with the more traditional chemo Gemzar. Alan told his story in the January
2003 issue of the Life Raft newsletter. Originally from Philipsburg, PA, Alan graduated
from
Penn State University in 1984 and moved to Bear, Delaware, in 1991. He was
known for his involvement in First State Harley Owners Group, his participation
in many bicycle rides raising money for the MS Society, Habitat for Humanity, the
American Cancer Society and several other charities, and for his sense of humor.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He was the beloved husband
of Betty (Fedorkowicz), loving son of William and Doris (Stranko) of Osceola Mills,
Penn.,
father of Matthew Fink of Waldwick, N.J., and Jessica Okarski of Wilmington,
Del. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, Pete Fedorkowicz, Paul Fedorkowicz
and Dan Fedorkowicz; sisters-in-law, Gladie Brogan, Joanne Nichols, Mary Anderson
and Barbara Brothers; his great aunt, Anne Galvin of Conn.; along with many loving
aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Services were held April 18 at Hope
Lutheran Church, 230 Christiana Road, New Castle, Del. In lieu of flowers, the family
asks for donations to be sent to Vitas Hospice, 100 Commerce Drive, Suite 302, Newark,
DE 19713; or to the American Cancer Society, 92 Reads Way, New Castle, DE 19720.
To send online condolences, please visit www.dohertyfh.com
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