ROCKFORD--When the newly expanded Center for Cancer Care opens next month at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, it will be under a new name thanks to a generous gift from local industrialist and philanthropist John M. Pepe and his family.

The gift to the OSF Cancer center expansion project was announced at a press conference July 13 in the Garden of Hope outside the Cancer Center, also donated to the center by the Pepe family.

The Patricia D. Pepe (pep-ee) Center for Care is being named in honor of John M. Pepe’s wife who was involved in local gardening and arts clubs serving on both the Rockford Symphony and Rockford Garden Club boards. Patricia Pepe died from cancer earlier this year.

Although the exact amount of the gift was not disclosed, OSF Saint Anthony Foundation Executive Director Rick Zumwalt said it “is the largest single gift from a living individual in the hospital’s history.”

Zumwalt said that,”this gift begins with John’s love and devotion to Pat and today culminates in a gift that will help provide a wonderful place for our cancer patients to receive their care.” While there were many who cared for Patricia Pepe during her illness he said, “she is now taking care of us.”

Pepe was President and CEO of John S. Barnes Corporation (now Concentric) and is currently chairman of the board for Hydraforce, Inc., in Lincolnshire. Pepe and his grandson John attended the announcement and expressed gratitude for the “compassion and care,” received by his wife at OSF during her illness and was thankful to express it with his gift.

The 15,000 square-foot expansion and 3,000 square-foot renovation to the medical center will address the growing demand for outpatient oncology services. The cost of the project is approximately $8.5 million.