(This article, reprinted with permission, featuring Paula Young Knight, appeared in The Columbus Dispatch on May 6, 2005.  It is a follow-up to the article below from May 15, 2003 entitled, "Cancer-support center starts to take root.")  5/10/05

Advocate for cancer patients dies at 58
Woman's efforts key to founding of support center

By Dennis Fiely
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

A memorial service will be held Saturday for one of Central Ohio's most ardent champions of better cancer treatment.

Paula Knight, 58, of Alexandria, died Tuesday after a 2 1/2 year battle with breast cancer.

Her experience inspired the recently retired Otterbein College professor to become the driving force behind Jan's Place, a cancer support center that opened a year ago at Mount Carmel St. Ann's hospital in Westerville.

"She was the torchbearer whose tireless efforts got this facility up an running," said Cheryl Biederman, Jan's Place director.

As chairwoman of the Jan Hurley Pink Ribbon Memorial Golf Tournament, Knight designated $70,000 from the fundraiser to develop a center that provides cancer therapy, counseling, support and education.

It consolidated in one place virtually all the services patients needed," said Mark Davanzo, St. Ann's director of oncology. "Previously, patients had to run from place to place  for different needs."

Jan's Place is named after Hurley, a friend and golfing companion of Knight's who was a Columbus teacher and past president of the Columbus ski club. Hurley died of breast cancer in 1998.

Knight helped engineer the project even while enduring surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

"She talked about it every day," said friend Lisa Eschleman. "She was always thinking about the next step and how to raise more money."

Knight continued to teach through the end of December at Otterbein, where she was an associate professor of education and former chairwoman of the Education Department.

She advocated hands-on learning activities in her science classes and pioneered faculty retreats.

"Paula devoted her life to teaching," said Marlene Deringer, Education Department chairwoman. "She had to gain some kind of scientific interest from every vacation trip she took."

A science classroom at Otterbein and a garden near Jan's Place will be dedicated to Knight.

The 3 p.m. Saturday service at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4686 E. Walnut St., will be followed by a celebration of Knight's life at the home of Steve and Lisa Eschleman.

"She wants it to be a party," Mrs. Eschleman said. "She picked out the food and wanted to make sure we had lots of beer."

Instead of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Mount Carmel Foundation, 793 W. State St. Columbus 43222.

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