Belvedere Fundraiser for PHLBI Mesothelioma Research a Big Success. Camarillo, CA
One of Ottavio Belvedere's last wishes was that his family would continue the fight to find a cure for mesothelioma. Ottavio's wife Noella and her three children held a special fundraising event for the Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute on Monday, November 5, to support its research activities. "We were moved by the outpouring of love for Ottavio," said PHLBI executive director Jessica Like. "Both of the Belvedere's restaurants in Camarillo were standing room only. Word of Ottavio's illness and his passing compelled hundreds and hundreds of friends to show up and support mesothelioma research."
Diagnosed with mesothelioma in April, 2006, Ottavio underwent pleurectomy / decortication surgery with Dr. Robert Cameron, director of the mesothelioma program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in May, 2006. The extra time as a result of the surgery gave Ottavio close to one and one-half years of time with his loved ones. The Belvedere family has asked that donations to the Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute be made in lieu of flowers.