Breathe for Steve Furgal Memorial

Education gave my father a new life. After going to college and getting his degree in respiratory therapy at the age of 50, all he could talk about was how he wished he had made this choice twenty years ago. He was luminous when he talked about the difference he was making, bringing all his well practiced charm and humor that came from owning a bar/restaurant into the medical field.

In December of 2014, Steve was diagnosed with late stage lung cancer. His daughter being recently engaged, the last thing my dad wanted to do was to see her married. Thanks to his medical team, he was able to live to see it happen - passing away two days after her wedding in May of 2016.

To honor my dad's life and work, the family decided to try and create a scholarship for students going into the field of respiratory therapy. Having spoke with SUNY Upstate in Syracuse, New York, if we were able to raise $10,000 for a scholarship, the award could be sustained as a trust managed by the university, providing $1,000 a year to help someone continue my father's legacy of kindness, warmth, and dedication to helping others.