The Honorable George T. Panichas

The Honorable George T. Panichas, Public Servant

The Honorable George T. Panichas 1922 - 2010 Secretary/Treasurer Rhode Island Cancer Council, Inc. 1999 - 2008

George Panichas who died February 25, 2010 was a truly dedicated public servant. Throughout his entire adult life he was concerned about his community, his state, his nation. During World War II he served in the Air Force, flying mission after mission over enemy country. In civilian life he served twelve years in the Rhode Island legislature, a member of the House Finance Committee. Afterward he actively served the retired legislators, ensuring that their community interests and concerns could be translated into actions of behalf of the community at large. Mr. Panichas was also a corporate business advisor and realtor.

He worked endlessly on behalf of Rhode Island Veterans. The Veterans' Home in Bristol, Rhode Island was constantly on his mind and its smooth running was, in part, due to his oversight. He worked tirelessly for the construction of a World War II monument in downtown Providence to recognize those who served their country in that war. Through his efforts the Veterans' Cemetery in Exeter, Rhode Island was landscaped and tended with federal funds. A building, named for him, at the cemetery is a monument to his devotion.

It was only natural, therefore, when he was made aware of the public health problem cancer posed for Rhode Island that he undertook to work for the public good to improved community cancer education and resources. When he was approached by Dr. Paul Calabresi and Dr. Arvin Glicksman and made aware that Rhode Island had the highest cancer incidence of any state in the country, he immediately approached the Honorable John Harwood, then Speaker of the House of Representatives, to enlist his support for a community effort to improve community education for cancer prevention and early detection. Most legislative leaders joined the effort to provide funding for the Rhode Island Cancer Council, which continued for the last eleven years.

Because of Mr. Panichas' continuing concern, the Rhode Island Cancer Council program of community education and personal interventions, the death rate from cancer in Rhode Island has dropped so that it is now “average” for all states although the incidence has remained above average for the country as a whole. Breast cancer deaths are now below the national level.

Mr. Panichas has a proud legacy. He will be greatly missed.